Music television

Slovenian indie pop band Joker Out have finished 21st at the Eurovision song contest, a result the band, though thrilled by the show and the experience, describes as disappointing.

The band got 78 points, 45 from juries and 33 from the televote, to place just ahead of Albania among the 26 entries in Saturday's final.

Slovenian entrants Joker Out made the cut in Thursday's second semi final of the Eurovision song contest alongside Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. This will be the first time since 2019 that Slovenia will be in the final.

Eurovision 2023 has kicked off in Liverpool, northern England, where acts from 37 countries are competing to win the 67th edition of the song contest.

Liverpool is hosting on behalf of Ukraine, which won the contest last with Kalush Orchestra's "Stefania."

Ukraine was unable to stage the event this year, as the winner usually does, because of Russia's invasion.

Tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest live final sold out in 36 minutes, after some fans were faced with error messages and holding screens.

Nine shows in total were available for fans to watch at Liverpool's arena, ranging from semi-final dress rehearsals, all the way through to the live grand final on 13 May. However, those trying to bag one were met with issues.

Greece on Monday announced that it will be competing in this year's Eurovision contest with Victor Vernicos and his original song, "What They Say."

At the age of 16, local Instagram sensation Vernicos is the youngest-ever contestant to represent Greece at the popular singing competition.

A prospect of Turkey participating in the Eurovision Song Contest next year has stirred excitement among Turkish fans after a senior official of the state-run broadcaster TRT announced that the country could return to the competition.

Eurovision winners Måneskin have been cleared of allegations that they were taking drugs in the song contest's green room after a suspect video of the Italian band went viral.

Poland's singing hopeful Rafal Brzozowski will be absent from the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 16 after a delegation member tested positive for Covid-19, the organizers said Saturday.

A limited audience will be allowed to attend the Eurovision song contest in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam in May as part of a COVID-19 trial, newspaper de Telegraaf reported on Thursday.

This was no contest. Shut down by the coronavirus crisis, Europe's annual musical spectacular that pits countries against one another instead sought to unite them on May 16.

The Eurovision Song Contest whose final was scheduled for May 16 night was canceled amid restrictions aimed at reining in the global pandemic.