Over-the-top costumes, silly phrases twisted to make catchy hooks, and a backdrop that is not always taken seriously can cause a lot of Eurovision hopefuls to be lumped (or perhaps dismissed) into the category of “joke entries.” We’ll explore some examples and try to “get it” in terms of what might be happening under the hood of these songs. Chris Molanphy from Slate’s Hit Parade will join us to help with analyzing the novelty of Eurovision entries.

"Joke" Entries Summary

• What is a novelty song? (1:19 )


• Does "Europop" automatically mean "novelty"? (7:04 )


• Eurovision Joke (or Novelty?) Entries (10:04 )


• When Eurovision hits the Hot 100 (18:57 )

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Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Special Guest: Chris Molanphy.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Links:

• Eurovision Novelty Songs - YouTube
• Hit Parade: How novelty and comedy songs topped the charts before memes.
• Old Town Road | Books Gateway | Duke University Press
• Why Is This Song No. 1?
• Kyle Gordon - Planet of the Bass (feat. DJ Crazy Times & Ms. Biljana Electronica) [Official Video] - YouTube