2016

 

• Hosted in: Valetta, Malta

• Won by: Georgia – Mzeo by Mariam Mamadashvili

The Eurovision Song Contests has had many voting procedures and ways to present them over the years, indeed the Junior version has seen plenty of wild ones. This year, however, saw the weirdest change yet – for the first time ever, the audience has no input on the contest, being replaced by the Kids’ Jury. However, instead of a pan-European one, as this was the case since 2012, each country now has its own Kids’ Jury. Second, after the overly dramatic ending that is the new voting procedure introduced in the adult contest later that year, they were hesitant to adopt that in this contest too. And finally, because somehow 2 sets of points from 17 countries isn’t enough, there are points from the on-stage, strictly neutral panelists. They really want to Americanize this contest, aren’t they? Thankfully this was only used for a year.

Whether you liked it or not, two of the on-stage judges are Jedward. Their participations in the 2011 and 2012 contests are enough to become a Eurovision meme- I mean famous popstars to be chosen to be the part of the expert panel this year, alongside more sensible choices such as Christer Björkman, 1992 entrant and producer for Melodifestivalen, and Mads Grimstad. Jedward also performed in the interval act for funsies.

If you’re wondering, which no doubt you do, the 12 points from Jedward goes to Russia. The Water of Life with their namesake project “had a strong meaning, and it took [them] to a different place, different from all of the other opponents” according to Jedward themselves. Also why do they call the other entries opponents? Do they jealous about 2012? In their defense, Russia had a pretty decent song, featuring four girls dressing up as ice (or fire) queens. Being voted by a literal Eurovision meme, Russia finished above what Jedward did in both adult contests – a stunning 4th place.

Meanwhile, Björkman gave 12 points to the Belarusian entry – “Music is my only way” by Alexander Minyonok. As the name suggests, it’s a dynamic, emotional (?) pop track serving as a victory theme for himself, with the backdrop being as much of an eyesore as last year’s winner Destiny Chukunyere. However, it doesn’t do better than Jedward’s favorite entry, only finishing 7th. Finally, though Grimstad’s 12 points went to Italy, who’d he really hoped they’ll get back to their prime 2 years ago. That didn’t happen by the way, but at least they got the podium spot of 3rd place, 30 points behind the winner.

It's hilarious for the panel of on-stage judges to not pick the obvious winner. Coming first is Georgia, which, unlike the general silliness of Bzikebi and/or CANDY, sent the most emotional winning song in JESC history, reminiscent of Gaia Cauchi and Vincenzo Cantinello. However what made “Mzeo”, a song performed by a girl with a ridiculous unpronounceable name of Mariam Mamadashvili, stood out from the last two is that it sounded more heartfelt. A powerful ballad that, despite sounding like coming out of a sad film, is about new beginnings. That song is going to stick with people for a very, very long time. On stage, Mariam wore a simple white dress – until you look at the back. Despite no televoting, it ironically performed last. Can’t think of much better poetry than this. 

While the kids’ juries favored Armenia by giving them 110 points, it wasn’t enough to overtake our fellow adult jury winner. By the time Mariam reprised her song, she still couldn’t hold back her tears, making it the first time the reprise was actually worse than the performance itself – since, of course, Lys Assia in 1956.

Of course, we can’t just talk about who Jedward and co. voted – Coming back for the first time since 2004 - El año de María Isabel – is Poland, whom their representative Olivia Wieczorek told us to “don’t forget” that the contest is still full of ballads. It felt like nothing has changed since Poland left. Well until they saw Jedward, anyway… Poland finished 11th. Which seemed disappointing until you realize that this is their best result. Who would have imagined back in 2016 that they would do miles better just 2 years later?

Presentation and format

While 2014 was hosted by an island, this year was hosted by a city, even though they’re in the same country. The show was held at the Mediterranean Conference Center, hence a much smaller stage, and was back to a male-female host duo, that is Ben Camille and Valerie Vella respectively. Vella was the spokesperson for the 2000 and 2005 adult contests, commentated 2009 and 2010, JESCs from 2004 to 2009, and hosted the Malta national final in 2002, 2009, and 2011. That’s a packed CV if I’ve ever seen one. This was the first show to be hosted on a Sunday.

In JESC history, there has never been an instance where the previous year’s host returning the following year as any kind. That changes this year when last year’s host Poli Genova returned to perform her 2016 entry “If love was a crime”. All shows from this year onwards are livestreamed on the contests’ YouTube channel.

After Yakovlev was sent to the job centre, this year’s Executive Supervisor is Jon Ola Sand, who already has experience in the adult contest since 2011. No, not that guy standing up who somehow spoke on behalf of the supervising team, the one on his right. 

As aforementioned, there’s a new voting system largely based on the one introduced in the adult contest earlier that year. Only the adult juries are presented in the traditional way – that is the country’s spokesperson from the green room, though they are confusingly teenagers – who only announces the 12 points from this point onwards. The national kids’ juries replaced the televotes in this system, with the number of kids’ jury points each country received are announced as one grand total, starting from the country that has the least votes from the kids’ jury then go up from there. At least the sympathy 12 points that was used since 2005 was finally ditched, though everyone still managed to score more than 12 points. This year the age range was widened – now ages 9-14, which persists to this day.

This year’s trophy is a red spiral, and no, it’s not this year’s symbol, which is intended to represent the contest's values: connectivity, diversity, creativity and respect.

The postcards start with the slogan “embrace” followed by a noun. Followed by their representative singing a different song from what they’re about to, then random images from the host country. In Georgia’s case, a science museum and a bubble party.