Eurovision: Come Together

{{For-text|the Eurovision Song Contest with the official slogan "Come Together"|the Eurovision Song Contest 2016}}

{{Infobox song contest

| name = Eurovision: Come Together

| logo = Eurovision Come Together.png

| final = 16 May 2020

| broadcaster = British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

| venue = Television Centre
London, United Kingdom

| presenters = Graham Norton

| director = Stephen Neal

| exproducer = {{unbulleted list|Andrew Cartmell|Mel Balac}}

| entries = 19

| vote = 100% online voting

| winner = "Waterloo" by ABBA

}}

Eurovision: Come Together was a one-off television programme, organised and broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), to determine the most popular song in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, as voted for by the British public. Hosted by Graham Norton, the show was broadcast from Television Centre, London on 16 May 2020, and served as a local alternative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nineteen past Eurovision entries, chosen by an assembled jury, took part in the event, with the winner determined by online voting. The competition was won by "Waterloo", originally performed by ABBA, who won Eurovision for {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1974|t=Sweden in 1974}}.

Background

{{Further|Eurovision Song Contest 2020|COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom}}

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was planned to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 12, 14, and 16 May 2020, was cancelled on 18 March 2020 by the contest organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS, and AVROTROS, following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2020 |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=18 March 2020 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2020 cancelled over coronavirus |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51870325 |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=BBC News}}

As part of a wide range of new programming commissioned following the cancellation of several arts and entertainment events as a result of the pandemic, the BBC announced on 24 March 2020 that it would commission a special Eurovision broadcast, titled Eurovision: Come Together.{{Cite web |date=24 March 2020 |title=BBC entertains the nation in time of need |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/bbc-entertains-the-nation-in-time-of-need |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Angus |date=24 March 2020 |title=United Kingdom: BBC announces "Eurovision: Come Together" compilation show for May 16 |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/03/24/united-kingdom-bbc-announces-eurovision-come-together-compilation-show-for-may-16/252424/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=wiwibloggs}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Tom |date=24 March 2020 |title=BBC to broadcast "Eurovision: Come Together" on 16th May |url=https://escxtra.com/2020/03/24/eurovision-come-together-bbc/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=ESCXtra}} The special would be produced by BBC Studios for BBC One, and feature past Eurovision performances from throughout the years, interviews, and a display of what had been anticipated for the 2020 contest.

The EBU, NPO, NOS and AVROTROS later confirmed that they would organise an official replacement programme to the 2020 contest, entitled Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light and broadcast live from Hilversum on 16 May 2020, the day on which the final would have taken place.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=1 April 2020 |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light To Be Broadcast Live From Hilversum |url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/04/01/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light-to-be-broadcast-live-from-hilversum/ |access-date=1 April 2020 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=31 March 2020 |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light will bring audiences together on 16 May |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light-will-bring-audiences-together-on-16-may |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} Initial reports suggested that the BBC would air Eurovision: Come Together on BBC One at the same time, with Europe Shine a Light being offered to UK viewers instead through BBC iPlayer.{{Cite web |last=Muldoon |first=Padraig |date=16 April 2020 |title=UK: Reports suggest that BBC will not broadcast 'Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light' on television |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/04/16/bbc-set-to-show-eurovision-europe-shine-a-light-on-iplayer-only/253479/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=wiwibloggs}} The BBC programming schedule for Eurovision, released on 1 May 2020, confirmed that Europe Shine a Light would be broadcast live on BBC One, with Graham Norton providing commentary, and that Eurovision: Come Together would be shown immediately before.{{Cite web |date=1 May 2020 |title=May means Eurovision on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/990f7787-04ae-4b49-b62f-7303d1898a06 |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=William Lee |date=1 May 2020 |title=Eurovision month! BBC reveals extensive ESC programme schedule…with "Europe Shine A Light" on BBC One |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/05/01/eurovision-month-bbc-reveals-extensive-esc-programme-schedule-with-europe-shine-a-light-on-bbc-one/253833/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=wiwibloggs}} This press release also confirmed that Eurovision: Come Together would give viewers the opportunity to take part in a live vote.

Selection process

File:ESC2018 - United Kingdom 03.jpg, who represented the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=2018}} in the 2018 contest, was a member of the show's selection panel.]]

The shortlist of competing entries for the competitive aspect of the programme was determined by a group of assembled individuals with a connection to Eurovision. The membership of the panel included British broadcasters and journalists, former UK Eurovision contestants, as well as members of the Eurovision fandom and contributors to Eurovision fansites.{{Cite news |date=15 May 2020 |title=Eurovision: Abba, Bucks Fizz and Conchita Wurst make BBC's best-ever vote list |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52660636 |access-date=22 June 2020}}{{Cite web |date=15 May 2020 |title=Eurovision: Come Together voting shortlist confirmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/eurovision-come-together-shortlist |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite web |last=Muldoon |first=Padraig |date=15 May 2020 |title=Eurovision Come Together: BBC releases shortlist of the best ever entries |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/05/15/bbc-releases-shortlist-of-best-ever-eurovision-songs/254331/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=wiwibloggs}}

Panelists were asked to select ten Eurovision songs from the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, including all songs that had taken part in the contest before 2020. Any entries which were to have competed at the 2020 contest were ineligible. The criteria against which the panelists were asked to rate the entries outlined that the songs selected should be "modern day classics" that "have stood the test of time", taking into account the performance, including live vocals and staging, and song composition. Any entry in which an individual panelist was involved in its original performance, either directly as singer or songwriter, or in a behind-the-scenes role, such as vocal coach or publicist, was ineligible for selection by that panelist.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Tom |date=16 May 2020 |title=BBC announces "Eurovision: Come Together" entries |url=https://escxtra.com/2020/05/16/eurovision-come-together-entries/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=ESCXtra}}{{Cite web |title=Eurovision:Come Together Voting Info |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2bPVr91Lr5DQ28mrS9lhsCG/voting-info |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}

The selection panel consisted of the following 18 members:

Rylan Clark-Neal – Eurovision semi-final television commentator for the BBC
Scott Mills – Eurovision semi-final television commentator for the BBC
Mel Giedroyc – Eurovision: You Decide host and former Eurovision semi-final television commentator for the BBC
Ken Bruce – Eurovision radio commentator for BBC Radio 2
Adele Roberts – BBC Radio 1 DJ and UK Eurovision jury member in 2019
Mark De-Lisser – Vocal coach
Nicki French – represented the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=2000|t=United Kingdom in 2000}} and London Eurovision Party co-host
Paul Jordan, a.k.a. Dr. Eurovision – Eurovision pundit
Heidi Stephens – TV blogger for The Guardian
Steve Holden – Music reporter for BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat
Mandy Norman – Eurovision fan
Alasdair Rendall – President of OGAE UK
Sarah Cawood – Former Eurovision semi-final television commentator for the BBC
SuRie – represented the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=2018|t=United Kingdom in 2018}}
Joel – Eurovision fan, featured in the BBC's online content for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
William Lee Adams – Eurovision blogger for Wiwibloggs
Zoe London – DJ and Eurovision fan
Lucy Percy – Eurovision blogger for Wiwibloggs

Participants

File:ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png

The list of participating entries was revealed by the BBC on 15 May 2020. Footage of the original performances for each entry from their original contests was shown. Voting took place via the BBC website; a BBC account was required to vote, and each account holder was able to cast up to three votes. The winner was revealed at the end of the live show, and the top ten were announced on the BBC website following the event's completion.{{Cite web |date=17 May 2020 |title=ABBA win Eurovision: Come Together |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eurovision/entries/680f6185-7c61-4225-b453-08885099d966 |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |date=16 May 2020 |title=Eurovision: Abba's Waterloo voted best song of all time |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52615403 |access-date=22 June 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Tom |date=17 May 2020 |title=BBC reveals top 10 of Come Together vote |url=https://escxtra.com/2020/05/17/come-together-top-10/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=ESCXtra}}{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Heidi |date=16 May 2020 |title=Eurovision: Come Together and Europe Shine A Light – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/live/2020/may/16/eurovision-song-contest-come-together-and-shine-a-light-live-bbc |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=The Guardian}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \| {{Abbr\|R/O\|Running order}} ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Country ! scope="col" \| Artist ! scope="col" \| Song ! scope="col" \| Language ! scope="col" \| Place
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 1 \| {{Escyr\|2015}} \| {{Esc\|Sweden\|y=2015}} \| {{sortname\|Måns\|Zelmerlöw}} \| "Heroes" \| English \| 5
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 2 \| {{Escyr\|1998}} \| {{Esc\|Israel\|y=1998}} \| Dana International \| "Diva" \| Hebrew \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \| {{Escyr\|2016}} \| {{Esc\|Australia\|y=2016}} \| {{sortname\|Dami\|Im}} \| "Sound of Silence" \| English \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 4 \| {{Escyr\|1981}} \| {{Esc\|United Kingdom\|y=1981}} \| Bucks Fizz \| "Making Your Mind Up" \| English \| 8
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 5 \| {{Escyr\|2018}} \| {{Esc\|Cyprus\|y=2018}} \| {{sortname\|Eleni\|Foureira}} \| "Fuego" \| English \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 6 \| {{Escyr\|1965}} \| {{Esc\|Luxembourg\|y=1965}} \| {{sortname\|France\|Gall}} \| "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" \| French \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 7 \| {{Escyr\|2012}} \| {{Esc\|Sweden\|y=2012}} \| Loreen \| "Euphoria" \| English \| 3
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 8 \| {{Escyr\|2007}} \| {{Esc\|Ukraine\|y=2007}} \| {{sortname\|Verka\|Serduchka}} \| "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" \| German, English, Ukrainian, Russian \| 7
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 9 \| {{Escyr\|2019}} \| {{Esc\|Italy\|y=2019}} \| Mahmood \| "Soldi" \| Italian \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
style="font-weight:bold;background:gold;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 10 \| {{Escyr\|1974}} \| {{Esc\|Sweden\|y=1974}} \| ABBA \| "Waterloo" \| English \| 1
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 11 \| {{Escyr\|2015}} \| {{Esc\|Belgium\|y=2015}} \| {{sortname\|Loïc\|Nottet}} \| "Rhythm Inside" \| English \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 12 \| {{Escyr\|1996}} \| {{Esc\|United Kingdom\|y=1996}} \| Gina G \| "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" \| English \| 10
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 13 \| {{Escyr\|2010}} \| {{Esc\|Germany\|y=2010}} \| Lena \| "Satellite" \| English \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 14 \| {{Escyr\|1958}} \| {{Esc\|Italy\|y=1958}} \| {{sortname\|Domenico\|Modugno}} \| "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" \| Italian \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 15 \| {{Escyr\|2018}} \| {{Esc\|Israel\|y=2018}} \| Netta \| "Toy" \| English \|data-sort-value="9999"\| –
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 16 \| {{Escyr\|1976}} \| {{Esc\|United Kingdom\|y=1976}} \| Brotherhood of Man \| "Save Your Kisses for Me" \| English \| 9
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 17 \| {{Escyr\|2014}} \| {{Esc\|Austria\|y=2014}} \| {{sortname\|Conchita\|Wurst}} \| "Rise Like a Phoenix" \| English \| 2
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 18 \| {{Escyr\|2009}} \| {{Esc\|Norway\|y=2009}} \| {{sortname\|Alexander\|Rybak}} \| "Fairytale" \| English \| 6
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" \| 19 \| {{Escyr\|1997}} \| {{Esc\|United Kingdom\|y=1997}} \| Katrina and the Waves \| "Love Shine a Light" \| English \| 4

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|R/O|Running order}}

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Country

! scope="col" | Artist

! scope="col" | Song

! scope="col" | Language

! scope="col" | Place

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 1

| {{Escyr|2015}}

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=2015}}

| {{sortname|Måns|Zelmerlöw}}

| "Heroes"

| English

| 5

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2

| {{Escyr|1998}}

| {{Esc|Israel|y=1998}}

| Dana International

| "Diva"

| Hebrew

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 3

| {{Escyr|2016}}

| {{Esc|Australia|y=2016}}

| {{sortname|Dami|Im}}

| "Sound of Silence"

| English

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 4

| {{Escyr|1981}}

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1981}}

| Bucks Fizz

| "Making Your Mind Up"

| English

| 8

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 5

| {{Escyr|2018}}

| {{Esc|Cyprus|y=2018}}

| {{sortname|Eleni|Foureira}}

| "Fuego"

| English

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 6

| {{Escyr|1965}}

| {{Esc|Luxembourg|y=1965}}

| {{sortname|France|Gall}}

| "Poupée de cire, poupée de son"

| French

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 7

| {{Escyr|2012}}

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=2012}}

| Loreen

| "Euphoria"

| English

| 3

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 8

| {{Escyr|2007}}

| {{Esc|Ukraine|y=2007}}

| {{sortname|Verka|Serduchka}}

| "Dancing Lasha Tumbai"

| German, English, Ukrainian, Russian

| 7

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 9

| {{Escyr|2019}}

| {{Esc|Italy|y=2019}}

| Mahmood

| "Soldi"

| Italian

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

style="font-weight:bold;background:gold;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 10

| {{Escyr|1974}}

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=1974}}

| ABBA

| "Waterloo"

| English

| 1

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 11

| {{Escyr|2015}}

| {{Esc|Belgium|y=2015}}

| {{sortname|Loïc|Nottet}}

| "Rhythm Inside"

| English

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 12

| {{Escyr|1996}}

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1996}}

| Gina G

| "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"

| English

| 10

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 13

| {{Escyr|2010}}

| {{Esc|Germany|y=2010}}

| Lena

| "Satellite"

| English

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 14

| {{Escyr|1958}}

| {{Esc|Italy|y=1958}}

| {{sortname|Domenico|Modugno}}

| "Nel blu, dipinto di blu"

| Italian

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 15

| {{Escyr|2018}}

| {{Esc|Israel|y=2018}}

| Netta

| "Toy"

| English

|data-sort-value="9999"| –

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 16

| {{Escyr|1976}}

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1976}}

| Brotherhood of Man

| "Save Your Kisses for Me"

| English

| 9

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 17

| {{Escyr|2014}}

| {{Esc|Austria|y=2014}}

| {{sortname|Conchita|Wurst}}

| "Rise Like a Phoenix"

| English

| 2

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 18

| {{Escyr|2009}}

| {{Esc|Norway|y=2009}}

| {{sortname|Alexander|Rybak}}

| "Fairytale"

| English

| 6

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 19

| {{Escyr|1997}}

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1997}}

| Katrina and the Waves

| "Love Shine a Light"

| English

| 4

Interval

Additional content was produced and broadcast following the performances of the competing acts and during the voting period. A pre-recorded interview conducted by Graham Norton with James Newman, the UK representative for the 2020 contest was shown, along with a pre-recorded acoustic performance of his intended Eurovision entry "My Last Breath". Music videos for a number of the entries which were set to compete at the 2020 contest were also featured.

As part of an open call for submissions by the BBC, footage was shown of Eurovision fans and former Eurovision entrants recreating moments from Eurovision history. Applicants could record themselves performing to one of the specified former Eurovision entries and could submit their footage to the BBC for inclusion in the show. The featured songs which applicants could recreate were:{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=William Lee |date=23 April 2020 |title=Eurovision Come Together! BBC calls on fans to join interval act by recreating "classic performances" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/04/23/eurovision-come-together-bbc-calls-on-fans-to-join-interval-act-by-recreating-classic-performances/253677/ |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=wiwibloggs}}{{Cite web |title=Be part of our Eurovision Come Together Interval Act! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/58V0k5SWlWf2FpNC0RzKTyy/be-part-of-our-eurovision-come-together-interval-act |access-date=22 June 2020 |publisher=BBC}}

{{flagicon|Moldova}} "Run Away" by SunStroke Project and Olia Tira – represented {{Esccnty|Moldova|y=2010|t=Moldova in 2010}}, notable for launching the "Epic Sax Guy" meme.
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu – won Eurovision for the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=1969|t=United Kingdom in 1969}}
{{flagicon|Russia}} "Party for Everybody" by Buranovskiye Babushki – represented {{Esccnty|Russia|y=2012|t=Russia in 2012}}
{{flagicon|Ireland}} "Waterline" by Jedward – represented {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=2012|t=Ireland in 2012}}
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} "Flying the Flag (For You)" by Scooch – represented the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=2007|t=United Kingdom in 2007}}
{{flagicon|Norway}} "Spirit in the Sky" by Keiino – represented {{Esccnty|Norway|y=2019|t=Norway in 2019}}
{{flagicon|Greece}} "Alcohol Is Free" by Koza Mostra and Agathonas Iakovidis – represented {{Esccnty|Greece|y=2013|t=Greece in 2013}}
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} "Congratulations" by Cliff Richard – represented the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom|y=1968|t=United Kingdom in 1968}}