Sofia Vieira Lopes and Isabel Campêlo, researchers at INET-md, coauthor with Irving Wolther and Carla Figueira the chapter “‘Beautiful Song’: Is the Music Presented at the Eurovision Song Contest a Musical Form in Its Own Right?“, included in The Oxford Handbook of Pop Music (OUP, 2026), edited by Eric Weisbard.
Abstract:
This chapter explores the public disdain some commentators display toward the music featured in the Eurovision Song Contest, questioning whether the competition’s music qualifies as a musical form in its own right. It argues that the condescension, particularly from Anglo-American commentators, stems from a sense of superiority over European popular music and reflects a latent cultural imperialism. The chapter suggests that these commentators should move away from asserting cultural dominance in popular music and begin recognizing the Eurovision Song Contest as a serious platform that showcases a diverse range of musical forms, each deserving of in-depth analysis and consideration of their historical and cultural contexts, as well as the creators’ intentions.