Have fun with Ethan Bjelland Hagberg, our resident Eurovision Nerd over the course of three Saturdays at Norway House. Buy the three-part course, or pick and choose the topics that interest you. Classes include playlists, take-home sheets, activities, and lively discussion!
We'll take a look at the international controversies surrounding recent competitions, watch some of the weirdest entries, and talk about the rules that have had to be made for the entrants. Did you know that all the instrumentation has to be pre-recorded? What's up with that?
General Registration | $25
Members of Norway House | $20
3-Part Course | $65
Members’ Price | $50
Refund policy: You are able to receive a class credit, good towards another Norway House class, if you contact us seven business days before the first day of class.
Questions: Contact Carstens Smith, Education Coordinator, at classes@norwayhouse.org.
A Major Pop-Music Tradition since 1956
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is the largest televised non-sporting event—with nearly 200 million viewers—beaten only by the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Since 1956, major composers and performers have found success in winning and even just competing in the ESC.
Eurovision Song Contest 1974:
Olivia Newton-John performs at 10:08
ABBA performs at 34:47
Among the most well-known performers internationally, you may recognize:
ABBA (Winner, 1974)
Oliva Newton-John (2nd Place, 1974)
Celine Dion (Winner, 1988)
Julio Iglesias (4th Place, 1970)
Cliff Richard (2nd Place, 1968; 3rd Place 1973)
Katrina and the Waves (Winner, 1997)
Måneskin (Winner, 2021)
t.A.T.u. (3rd Place, 2003)
Jónsi of Sigur Rós (19th Place, 2004; 20th Place, 2012)
America's Growing Interest
The United States has recently taken a slow but burning interest in the competition. Though the contest has been aired on American streaming platforms since 2016, it was met with lukewarm viewership until 2020. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix released the film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, with Will Ferrell at the helm as writer, producer, and co-star alongside Rachel McAdams and Pierce Brosnan. It reached the top spot among streamers in the first week of its release, and the song "Husavík" from the film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2021. Since then, stateside viewership has grown exponentially, and Eurovision is no longer just for Europeans. In 2022, Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg even hosted an attempt at the American Song Contest, with all of the US states and territories competing for similar acclaim.
The Learning Curve for Newbies
Despite its popularity, Eurovision can be daunting for new fans, partly because of ESC's Olympic-sized list of rules and its cumulative history. These courses are aimed at bringing those interested into the fold. Whether this is the first time you're learning about it or you've watched a couple of contests and just don't get it, Ethan's ready to take you on the glittery journey to Eurovision competency.
Three-Part Course or Drop-In Class
What Is Eurovision? | Saturday, April 6, 2024 1:00 PM
A general overview of the contest, its history, and its significance.
Oddball Acts, Sizzling Controversies, and Wacky Rules | Saturday, April 13, 2024 1:00 PM
We'll take a look at the international controversies surrounding recent competitions, watch some of the weirdest entries, and talk about the rules that have had to be made for the entrants. Did you know that all the instrumentation has to be pre-recorded? What's up with that?
Eurovision 2024—Hosting Your Viewing Party | Saturday, April 20, 2024 1:00 PM
This year's contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden, after Loreen won last year in Manchester, UK, with her song "Tattoo." Ethan will give an overview of how the contest will run, some behind-the-scenes tips, and ways to host your viewing party. Think of sparkles, bubbly drinks, bingo cards, score sheets, and even betting pools!
Ethan Bjelland Hagberg
A fan of Eurovision since he first saw the contest in 2008, Ethan has since embraced his nerdy obsession. He's always excited to bring more people into the fold and introduce them to the joy, magic, and silliness of ESC.
Ethan is the Director of Communications at Norway House and is a Norwegian instructor with the Mindekirken Norwegian Language and Culture Program and Concordia Language Villages' Skogfjorden.