Eurovision Eurovision 2022

Turin 2022: More inside information about the running order

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest Head of Contest is Dutch; his name is Twan van de Nieuwenhuizen (picture above). He is also one of the Directors who is part of the running-order process. Of each country we knew before where they would be placed in the show when it comes down to which of the two Semi-finals and in which part of each Semi-final, so whether they would be in the first or second half of a particular final. The running-order is based on genre of music, but also props that need to be put on and taken off the stage.

Twan van de Nieuwenhuizen gave had a radio interview with Dutch National Broadcaster NPO Radio 5 about what his work in the contest entails. Van de Nieuwenhuizen was also in charge of the running-order of the contest last year in Rotterdam, and this year he was asked by the Italian National Broadcaster Rai to execute the same important task.

Source: Sjon Wevels, YouTube channel

Deciding the running-order

The 2022 running order was revealed officially on March 29th 2022. Since the Eurovision Song Contest of 2013 the producers of that year’s show can decide where they place which song based on their music expertise; the only thing that they need to keep in mind is the allocation draw in which is decided in which part of a specific Semi-final a country is placed.

First of all, van de Nieuwenhuizen explained that picking the order of the songs is needed to create a show that has variety and entertainment value, because it needs to be a show that appeals to approximately 200 million viewers worldwide. It would not be great to have 2 or more ballads in a row or all the up-tempo songs after each other. Then there is the lighting and the overall vibe of the songs. Next to this, some countries have more stage pieces than others or a more intricate staging, so there is more time needed to put everything on the stage.

No water features during performances

This year’s show will have no on-stage water features, it is even forbidden under new contest rules. In the contest of 2012 the brothers Jedward had a fountain on stage during their performance, and this will be impossible because of the new rules that have been put in place right now.

Source: Eurovision.tv, YouTube channel

35 seconds between performances

There are only 35 seconds between songs. During these mere 35 seconds the viewers at home see the postcard that is shown before every song, but on-stage the stage crew is running, cleaning, and placing props for the next contestant’s performance. Van de Nieuwenhuizen, together with Dutch Stage Manager, Richard van Rouwendaal, will also manage the execution of this part of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

The plans of Måneskin back in 2021

In 2021 the winning act, Italy’s Måneskin, came with a 88 page step-by-step document about how they wanted their performance to be executed on stage, which was quite the challenge. The staging of Måneskin’s performance was done by Claudio Santucci, and was received so well that he is the Head of Show of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVH5dn1cxAQ
Source: Eurovision.tv, YouTube channel

During this year’s contest…

Van de Nieuwenhuizen mentioned that the staging of Finland for the second Semi-final will be grand, because they will open this specific Semi-final, and since a show is as good as its beginning viewers will be mesmerized by what Finland’s The Rasmus will have in store for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtMfCf3vFbc
Source: Eurovision.tv, YouTube channel. Finnish National Final performance of The Rasmus.

Eurovision Song Contest 2022

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 10th (Semi-final 1), 12th (Semi-final 2), and on the 14th (Grand Final) in Turin, Italy.

Source main picture: Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant, pzc.n;

Eurovision

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