As the semi-finals get under way here in Copenhagen and we start to keep score at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, it’s time to publish this year’s ESC Insight eBook covering the performers and countries that are part of this year’s Song Contest. Welcome to the 2014 Eurovision Guide Book.
But first, the foreword to this year’s guide, which is from Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand…
Welcome to Eurovision!
Jon Ola Sand
I am honored to welcome the Eurovision Song Contest back to the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Denmark is hosting the 59th edition of the world’s favourite music show with an invitation to “Join Us”.
We might take for granted that we come together to celebrate music, culture, diversity and friendship. This year, we commemorate the First World War centenary. Europe has come a long way since then, but even today we haven’t managed to completely eradicate conflict from this continent. It’s a reminder we should cherish and be inspired by the moments when we come together to celebrate our similarities and differences.
This is the third time Denmark and the Host Broadcaster DR invites Europe to this prestigious event.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at DR, the City of Copenhagen, the participating broadcasters and the artists who represent the colours of their flag.
Finally, I would like to thank you. Together with some 180 million others, you will “Join Us” to celebrate and enjoy the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest. In the end, we do this for you! I wish you all a great Eurovision Song Contest experience.
Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor, Eurovision Song Contest.
Why an Ebook?
As with our guide to previous Song Contests , we’ve pulled together information from around the internet, including the official site www.eurovision.tv (used with permission), Wikipedia, the artists’ own pages, and coverage from some of the other Eurovision sites. We’ve always said ESC Insight was about bringing you more information that was useful to you, and our eBook guides continue that mission.
In the pages of the ESC 2014 guide, we look at the countries in turn, with information on:
- The song, performer, composer and lyricist.
- Biographical information.
- Historical statistics for each country.
- Thoughts from Ewan, Sam, and Sharleen on the entry.
- …and a handy space for you to take your own notes as the live shows on May 6th, May 8th, and May 10th approach!
As always, thanks go to Ben Morris for the Minipop icons that grace the guide book.
We’d also like to thank once more the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand, for writing the foreword to the Guide Book.
How to get the eBook
The ESC Insight Unofficial Guide to the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest is a free download. If you’d like to share it online, we’d ask you to credit ourselves here at ESC Insight and link back to this page, rather than pointing directly to the eBook.
Sorry to be pedantic but you have the wrong dates in the blurb…unless those are the 2015 dates and I’ve been asleep for a year!
Who won in 2014? Where is it being held? Did Molly win? lol
Meow!
Well, if Molly won – where’s my $2500!?!
Good luck to everyone who has taken bets on this years results, and happy Eurovision x
Random comments:
I noticed about 20 typos, but none critical to understanding.
“(ela-i-za)” made me think use of the phonetic alphabet for foreign names would be a useful and eductional future addition, possibly inspiring more people to expand their language skills. You already use extended Roman characters sometimes; it would be nice to know which sounds they represent in each language without looking them up.
Great guide but will it be published for download by amazon?
Would love to read at my leisure on kindle.
Keep up great work
We’re a bit behind the schedule, not sure if it will clear in time TBH. You can copy the PDF over?
David, I can read this download on my Kindle app on my iPad but I assume that it is in a suitable format for that anyway…
Good stuff guys, by the way!
Thanks guys, I’ll try that.