A data-driven perspective on the world's favourite song contest
We have one semi-final behind us and the next looms large. Whilst 80 per cent accuracy isn’t bad, the perfectionists at 58points.com aspire to, well, perfection. But we are sticking with our 2016 model to see if it does any… Read more2016 Semi-Final Two Prediction: Our Infinitely Reliable Non-Scientific Model
Our highly sophisticated prediction model scored 8/10. Not a bad result, but not perfect. So…what happened?
As the 2016 Eurovision season got underway in December, information about artists, songs and presentation (or staging, if you prefer) have been dribbling out; throughout this period, the ESC fan community has developed its impressions of each entry. Many become… Read more2016 Semi-Final One Prediction: Our Infinitely Reliable Non-Scientific Model
Music can be transformative. It moves us, it facilitates connection and a shared identity. It can also be used to demarcate with whom we are not allied. A quick search on YouTube will reveal any shortage of nationalist songs, including several featuring former Eurovision participants. Including at least one winner. In this article we take a systematic, qualitative look at 2016’s lyrics.
Mere hours before the final tranche of tickets for this year’s Eurovision go on sale (good luck punters; use multiple browsers!), we have learned the dreadful “producer-led” draw for this year’s two semi-finals…
In our previous article we considered what sorts of outcomes from the semi-final allocation draw might impact this year’s Contest. Now that we know whether each semi-finallist will perform in either the first or second semi-final. And whether they will… Read moreDrawn in quarters: initial thoughts on the 2016 draw
In advance of next weeks draw for semi-final allocations–and the spot in the Grand Final for hosts Sweden, whose spot is never produced select for (even more) obvious conflict of interest reasons–we now know the pot allocation for the semi-finallist. … Read morePot calling kettle: implications of the 2016 allocation pots