Pre-Recorded Backing Vocals to be Allowed at Eurovision 2022

The official Eurovision rules state that pre-recorded backing vocals will be allowed for Eurovision 2022. This follows a trial during Eurovision 2021.

The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 have been revealed by Icelandic broadcaster RUV as they launch the search for their next Eurovision entry. The rules revealed that pre-recorded backing vocals will be permitted for the next contest.

The European Broadcasting Union allowed pre-recorded backing vocals in 2021, and offered the following statement: ‘We believe allowing backing vocals to be pre-recorded increases the creative potential and diversity of acts and facilitates modernisation of the Eurovision Song Contest. It also allows songwriters and producers to present their work as close as possible to their original composition. The change also provides the flexibility for participating broadcasters to minimise the size of their delegations, thus saving costs. Permitting recorded backing vocals also contributes to reducing the technical burden and costs for the host broadcaster as well. This all contributes to the sustainability of the Contest in our new reality’.

It will still be required that the backing track does not consist of ‘lead vocals, lead dubs and/or any other vocals that would have the effect of, or aim at replacing or unduly assisting the Lead Vocal(s) during the live performance on stage’.

It is not clear whether this rule will continue beyond 2022, especially as the contest begins to return to regular procedures as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. What is certain is that this is a decision that has divided fans, as it’s a change that significantly impacts the contest. What do you think of the rule?

1 Comment

  1. Awful decision. The in-concert feeling with skilled vocalists will totally disappear in this way and instead we get a risk-avoiding event,where hardly anything is spontaneous and nothing can go wrong. Polished production wins over craftmenship. In Sweden, MF, we have seen the consequences. Artists who can hardly sing are backed by a thick layer of pre-recorded voices (hello, Anton Ewald). On top of that (we have seen that already in Rotterdam), we’ll see less variation, cause more pre-recorded vocals will inevitably lead to more dancers on stage and more of the same. The Swedes have what they got and without any doubt they will be cheering now. I suggest a videoclip contest or a hologram contest from now on. A lot of money can be saved by that, no traveling costs, less technical burden for the organizing country, perfect images and sound. Fans don’t have to travel and no difficult and complicated rules for unskilled lead singers,as technical manipulations can be done without restrictions. The new modern contest. The ideal situation, no?

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