EFV 07 - Echternach, Luxembourg

## **Bidding Phase & Entry Acceptance**

As the seventh edition of the contest, it was previously decided on the Council Meeting that the previous champion would host the following season of the contest. Echternach was the chosen city to host the contest, being indicated by Luxembourg's Head of Delegation.

***VII Council Meeting - Echternach, Luxembourg - September 17, 2016***
HOST COUNTRY
LUXEMBOURG

The 29 participating countries had almost a week before the closure of the previous season and the opening of the current season to send their entries and the Management Team could organize the Official Playlist for the voting. Most of the delegations sent their entries with their final votes.

## Participants

### Withdrawing Countries

AZE - BIH - EAI - FIN - GEO - MOR - NED - PER - PHI - ROM - SPL - UKR - VEN

### Voting System

SF: Countries must vote only in their semifinals, using a new system of points (15-12-10-7-5-2 points); only the 6 high scores in each semifinal qualifies to the final.GF: ESC system (12-10-8-1 points)

## Winner

### Winning Artist(s)

Léa Castel

Luxembourg has chosen the motto *Let Your Heart Sing* for their first time hosting integrally the shows.

### *Visual Identity*

Following to the announcement of the motto, the Management Team opted to keep the romantic scheme to compose the visual identity of this season, having the official EFV logo on a surface which includes the Luxembourguese Summer Royal Palace in the background, with its magnificent gardens. Also, the motto, number of the season and indications of hosting city and country, with the dates of the season, all in the national colours of the country.

## **Artists & Entries**

Here you can find a list with the 29 entries in the competition. The winner is listed in ***bold/italic***.

## **Semifinals Running Order & Voting**

Due to the number of contestants, EFV had the use of Semifinals and Final Rounds. All countries were drawn and allocated in three semifinals, but the voting system had a change to be tested. The Top 3 countries were also allocated to vote in the Semifinals, but they would only perform in the Grand Final.

## **Winner Acceptance**

Right after the disqualification of Armenia for failing to vote, EFV didn't have any problems to declare France as winner, receiving 98 points.

## **Curiosities & Notes**

1. This was the last season which selected only 3 finalists for the following season. The Management Team decided to rename Top 3 to "Top 4", qualifying the four better placed countries to the next Final Round.
2. It was the first time that the Top 4 was composed for all non-English songs.
3. It's the second time a song in French wins, after Belgium's first victory in the first season.
4. The results of the Top 4 were, respectively, their best results ever: Russia as a Runner Up, Canada's 3rd place and Brazil's 4th place. It's also the only victory for France so far.

## **References**

1. ↑ According to the rules, the host country has the right to nominate three cities to a poll or to indicate a host city, as well as giving directions about the visual identity and also choosing a motto (all optional).
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Failed to vote.