EUROVISION

But first, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met. 

There was an early warning from Xi about Taiwan.  Otherwise, click on to read:

Secretary of State Rubio on what Trump and Xi discussed

• Young Chinese facing ‘life pressure’ resist government push to boost marriage rate
• Chinese EVs take the world by storm — except in the United States
• China’s Great Wall is being restored one brick at a time

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is underway in Vienna, Austria.

• Israel is not popular in Europe, but they are competing, causing a serious crisis, for five countries thereby boycotted the event, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia.
• What is the controversy?  Pro-Palestinian support.
• 
  Why is Vienna hosting?  Because JJ Austria last year won the contest, singing Wasted Love.
• Who will win this year?  ChatGPT predicts Felicia of Sweden with My System.
• How to watch.
• In the USA, Peacock.  Most of the rest of the world outside of Europe, the official Eurovision You Tube Channel, most likely for free.

• 
  First semi-final was on Tuesday.
• Second semi-final, today from 2100 CEST (Central European Summer Time).  For Hawaii, subtract 12 hours.  East Coast Daylight Savings Time of 3PM.
• Grand Final, Saturday, May 16 at 2100 CEST.

What is Eurovision?

• The world's largest music competition, based on the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, held in the Italian Riviera since 1951.
• Began in 1956, organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), so this is the 70th year, because there was no show in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• 
  The first winner was Lys Assia of Switzerland, singing Refrain.  
• Only seven countries competed.
• She was already a star with the hit, O Mein Papa, in 1950. 

• 
  Remember Eddie Fisher of the USA?  He also sang that song.  But his cover was in 1954.
• That's not all.  She is known as the First Lady of Eurovision, not because she was the original victor.

• 
  She returned in 1957, but came in 7th.
• In 1958 she placed second.
• Made many more hits and concert tours.  Films.
• Even performed for Queen Elizabeth II, Egypt's King Faruk and Argentina's Eva Peron.

• 
  Took a break of 40 years. but in 2011 made a bid to represent her country again at the 2012 contest in Azerbaijan.  Her C'Etait Ma Vie came in only eighth in her country, but she was invited to attend the contest in Baku as a guest of honor.  She was 87.

• 
  She tried one more time in 2013, with a song called All in Your Head, featuring hip hop band New Jack.  She failed.
• Passed away in 2018 at the age of 94.

• 
  Essentially, only European countries can compete.  However, in 2015, EBU invited Australia, and they have come every year since then.

• 
  Israel was the first non-European country to participate, in 1973, and won in 2018, so hosted in 2019.
• Each participating country submits an original song, around 3 minutes long, and can be performed by up to six musical artists  16 or older on stage.

• 
  This year, there will be 35 countries, including Israel and Australia.
• Ireland and Sweden hold the record for most victories, seven.
• From Wikipedia:

Several of the best-selling music artists in the world have competed in past editions, including ABBA, Céline Dion, Julio Iglesias, Cliff Richard, and Olivia Newton-John; some of the world's best-selling singles have received their first international performance on the Eurovision stage.

• 
  I recognize only two songs from this competition:  Waterloo by ABBA in 1974 and Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) by Domenico Modugno in 1958.
• The ten most streamed Eurovision songs.
• 100 Most Watched Eurovision Songs in 13 min 31 sec.

Shakira, Madonna and BTS will entertain at the first World World Cup Final halftime show:  This will be the first time in the tournament's nearly 100-year history that a musical performance will be held during the final match halftime.  19July2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

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