Interview with Dean Vuletic
Sarah chats with the world's leading academic expert on the history and politics of Eurovision
Dr. Dean Vuletic is a historian, author and commentator who specialises in the Eurovision Song Contest. After earning a PhD in modern European history from Columbia University, he taught the world’s first university course on Eurovision at New York University. Later, as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Intra-European Fellow at the University of Vienna, he led a groundbreaking research project on the history of Eurovision which became the basis for his book, “Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Described as "the definitive history of the Eurovision Song Contest and its political and cultural significance," Dean's book has recently been updated to include a new chapter looking at Eurovision's global expansion, protest movements and participant expulsions. The second edition was recently released in digital formats and will be available in paperback and hardback on May 14.
Sarah and Dean chat at length about what to watch for this year - musically and politically - as well as the history and controversies. We also give a "first listen" to a few of this year's songs and discuss our favorite non-winners from years past. (#justiceforSanMarino)
Songs featured in the show include:
Linda Lampeniu & Pete Parkkonen - Liekinheitin (Finland)
Eva Marija - Mother Nature (Luxembourg)
Noam Bettan - Michelle (Israel)
Søren Torpegaard Lund - Før Vi Går Hjem (Denmark)
Monroe - REGARDE ! (France)
Sal Da Vinci - Per sempre sì (Italy)
Sarah Engels - Fire (Germany)
Michael Schulte - You Let Me Walk Alone (Germany, 2018)
Delta Goodrem - Eclipse (Australia)
Piqued Jacks - Like an Animal (San Marino, 2023)
