UVSC 22

## 22nd UnitedVision Song Contest

**UnitedVision Song Contest 22**, often referred as **UnitedVision Song Contest February 2023**, was the twenty-second edition of the UnitedVision Song Contest.

The event was held at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 25, 2023. The show was hosted by Advisko.

6 States took part in the contest. This is the first time since the 17th edition in September 2022 to have a lower number of participants. Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee all participated. Tennessee returning to the contest after not participating last edition. Kentucky and New Hampshire withdrew from the contest after participating last edition. No new states debuted this edition.

The contest was organized by the UBU. The contest was partnered with American Heart Association for American Heart Month.

## **Location**

### **Host City**

**Minneapolis** is a major city in Minnesota that forms "Twin Cities" with the neighboring state capital of St. Paul. Bisected by the Mississippi River, it's known for its parks and lakes. Minneapolis is also home to many cultural landmarks like the Walker Art Center, a contemporary art museum, and the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, famed for Claes Oldenburg's "Spoonbridge and Cherry" sculpture.

## Format

### Visual design

The contest's slogan was "The Inner Light". The official logo and branding was revealed on February 6, 2023; designed by Advisko. The generic logo spelled "UnitedVision Song Contest" with the host state and edition number in the middle at the bottom. The official logo was a green and blue ball being surrounded by. The background had similarities to the UVSC21 background, with dark mixture of blues. The UBU said "It represents the spark of talent that exists within everyone. The light enables everyone to see the world around them by distinguishing details, individual colors, and the brightness of each soul."

### **Voting**

The voting was slightly changed due to the number of participating states, they removed "1 point" and each state had to present their points; 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 points. Each point had to be given to each state. The televote remained the same and had people give out 3 amount of points; which included 1, 3, 5 Points. Each point had to be given to different states and couldn't be all given to 1 state.

### Opening and interval acts

Both of the Interval Acts were the Winner and Runner-Up from the last edition. last edition winner, Maggie Rogers from Minnesota and last edition runner-up, Klara from New Hampshire.

### Stage design

The stage was decorated with the colors from the logo, there were decorations at the auditorium, the event did have a screen for the points and televote. Each state that participated this month, came up to the stage and sung there songs with the background visuals/props behind them on the stage. Everyone that went to the contest in person had to have a negative Covid-19 test in the past 48 hours. The show was still limited seating due to ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic.

## Participants

### Participating states

The UBU released information on February 2, that applications would open on February 5, and close February 12. The applications closed after being opened for a week and on February 13, the UBU announced that 6 states were participating in the 22nd edition. Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee. This is the first time since the 17th edition in September 2022 to have a lower number of participation.

Boys World, the winners from editions 7 & 16 returned to the contest to try and win it for the 3rd time. They successfully won the edition with 60 points, the same number of points that they won the 16th edition. They are now the only group to win 2 times and now 3 times. UBU was surprised when they won the edition and said that they are still the "Superior Group" of UVSC having only participating 4 times and winning 3 out of those 4 times.