Europe shined its light

16 May 2020 at 23:11 CEST

Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light - Presenters EBU / Kris Pouw

Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light has come to an end, and the light was bright. Participating countries, their artists, music and fans, were each honoured in a moment of connectedness that will no doubt go down in Eurovision history.

The 2-hour special, broadcast live from Studio 21 in Hilversum, the Netherlands, aired on televisions around the world. Produced in its entirety in just under 7 weeks, all while maintaining social distancing guidelines, the show proved to be a true testament to the love and resilience in the Eurovision Song Contest.

WATCH HERE: You can watch the incredible show (again) in the video below

During the show, we were treated to music from the 41 talented stars chosen for the 2020 Contest. Between country features, hosts Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit, and online host NikkieTutorials, told the story of the world's biggest live music event to fans around the world.

What is Eurovision without the intervals?

At the very beginning of the show, the presenters were accompanied by Johnny Logan, with whom they sang Jonny's What's Another Year. He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 and now performed it again, together with Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and dozens of Eurovision fans.

Between songs, many artists sent special messages of good health and solidarity to dedicated Eurovision fans at home. For example, Måns Zelmerlöw gave an acoustic performance of his winning song, Heroes, from his own home. The song was a tribute to the health care professionals that were praised as true heroes of our time around the world. With a similar amount of heart, Milk and Honey's Gali Atari performed their Eurovision classic, Hallelujah, as a tribute to those who cannot see their parents and grandparents due to quarantine measures and social distancing guidelines. Marija Šerifović performed Molitva on the empty streets of Belgrade.

Audiences were also treated to an emotional cross-talk with Antonio Diodato, who won the famous Italian Sanremo Festival with the song Fai Rumore, thus winning the right to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. His moving song was sung from balconies across Italy amidst the height of the COVID-19 crisis, which struck Italy particularly hard.

Reigning Eurovision champion Duncan Laurence also premiered his brand new song, Someone Else, alone at his piano amidst hundreds of glowing bulbs.

Another Eurovision winner who joined the show was Netta. She performed her new song Cuckoo.

The runner-up from 2014 Ilse DeLange (finished 2nd in the Grand Final in Copenhagen with The Common Linnets) and Michael Schulte (finished 4th in 2018), combined strengths and sang Ein Bisschen Frieden. With this song, Nicole from Germany won the Contest in 1982.

Best Wishes from the Royal Family

The Dutch Royal Family, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and their daughters Amalia, Alexia and Ariane, sent a special message of well-wishes to Europe and the world:

Europe is going through a very rough time. Let’s keep our eyes and ears open for each other. Together, we stand strong. Europe, shine a light and keep the music alive! – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. #eurovision #shinealight #songfestival⠀

A special message from Björn

Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA joined in at the Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light show with a special message for the Eurovision fans. 'Eurovision allows you to escape and be happy', he said during this video:

Junior Eurovision 2020 in Poland!

In an interval between songs, Poland's Viki Gabor, the winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019, excitedly announced the artwork and slogan, #MoveTheWorld, for Junior Eurovision 2020, which is planned to take place in Poland next November.

A special feature of notable landmarks around Europe really brought home the incredible unity between countries, and between all of us. To bring that feeling home, the artists of 2020 joined together, from their locations across Europe, in a unifying performance of 1997's Eurovision winner Love Shine A Light by Katrina And The Waves.