Mearthvision Song Contest 217

Participation map

The **Mearthvision Song Contest 217** was the eighteenth edition of the annual Mearthvision Song Contest. The contest was held in Wesilu, Bisini, following Joel and Donna's win at the 216 contest in Neo Tokyo, Jolivan with the song "Acceptatie". It was the second time that Bisini had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 201. They were the first country to host the contest twice.

Organised by the International Broadcasting Union (IBU) and host broadcaster Bisinish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the contest was held at Two Wesilu and the final took place on 22 May 217. The contest was hosted by Amelia Colling, Emilia Holt and Ariana Barrett.

Twenty-one countries participated in the contest. Halsivon did not return after their 217 participation, citing financial problems and constant low placings.

The winner was host country Bisini with the song "Cover It in Black" performed and written by Izzy and Dig. This was Bisini's third victory in the contest, following their wins in 200 and 216. With this victory, Bisini became the first country to win the contest three times, the first to win twice in a row, the first country to win twice with the same artists. As of 217, they remain the only country to win the contest more than once. Bisini became the first country to win both the jury and televotes since the implementation of the televote in 215. Lincly, Dania, Jolivan and Maro rounded out the top five, with Dania tying for their best position ever with their third place in 210. This was the ninth time in a row that Jolivan finished in the top five, the third for Bisini and second for Lincly. Additionally, this was the first time a winning song received over 300 points and the first time a runner-up received over 200 points. Bisini broke the record for most amount of points given by the juries with 166 points, beating Lincly's record of 144, that they had achieved in 214. Both Lincly and Bisini received points from every single country in both the jury vote and televote, the first time this has happened. For the first time, a country managed to receive *nul points* in the televote—in fact, two did—Plos and the Northern States of Caronana. They did, however, receive points from the juries—Plos received 39 and the NSC 4.

## Location

The 217 contest was held at Two Wesilu in Wesilu, Bisini. It was the second time that Bisini hosted the contest, following the country's victory at the 216 edition with the song "Acceptatie", performed by Joel and Donna.

### Venue

Two Wesilu is a multi-purpose arena in the suburbs of Wesilu. It has multiple railway links to the city centre and airport.

### Host city selection

BBC and the planning committee set a deadline for cities to deliver their bid books to them. Once the deadline happened, six venues had been submitted. Four of these were shortlisted including Sydinie Place, the host of the Mearthvision Song Contest 201. The others were Sydinie Arena, another arena considered for 201, Wesilu Two, the winner, and Maldisive Arena.

 Maldisive

## Format

### Visual design

The contest's slogan, "Something Magical", was unveiled on 3 October 216. It was partially chosen to represent how the contest returning to Bisini was "something magical". The official logo and branding was unveiled on 3 December 216. Designed by Wesilu-based graphic design company Bloxi, it is the moon on the water, representing magic and mystery.

### Presenters

It was confirmed on New Year's Day 217 that the contest would have three hosts: Amelia Colling, Emilia Holt and Ariana Barrett. The former two had previously hosted the Mearthvision Song Contest 201, and in 209, after the Mearthvision Song Contest 209, the two were voted the best hosts ever by fans in a poll on the MSC Twitter account. Ariana Barrett has hosted the late-night talk show *The Late-ish Show with Ariana Barrett* on BBC Two since 214, and was a judge on the third season of *The Voice of Bisini*.

### Allocation draw

The draw to determine the participating countries' half took place on 31 January 217, a week before the last edition's draw, at the Wesilu Metropolitan Museum of the Arts. The ceremony was hosted by the contest's presenters, and will the passing of the host city insignias from Yusuke Hoga, Mayor of Neo Tokyo (host city of the previous contest) to Julia East, Mayor of Wesilu.

### Postcards

The concept for the postcards was teased on 3 December 216 after the reveal of the logo. On 17 January 217, the IBU officially announced the postcard concept. They were filmed between January and April, and involved the artists dancing to an older Mearthvision song from their country, while chasing a "magical trail of moons and stars" in certain Bisinish landmarks that resemble their country. The following locations were used:

* Avino – Sydinie Promenade
* Bisini – Sydinie Promenade
* Canadina – Mount Basen
* Dania – Wesilu Metropolitan Museum of the Arts
* Easatloa – Wesilu Old Town
* Fernit – Maca Ruins
* Jolivan – Gawlaide Square
* Joliwe – Dokakasi Salt Flats
* Lincly – Maldisive Gardens
* Lincon – Tarkatta
* Maro – Wesilu Metropolitan Museum of the Arts
* Noda – Wesilu Diamond District
* Northern States of Caronana – Uptown Wesilu
* Plos – Wesilu Old Town
* Porta – Tarkatta
* Rinasine – The plains outside Kanscroft
* Russanplon – Mount Basen
* South Yelsiva – Maldisive Gardens
* Tontin – Mount Basen
* United Republic – Seunda
* Yelsiva – Rewaham Solar Plant

### Opening and interval acts

The two initial interval acts were revealed on 22 February 217: the two second-place songs for Bisini, Media's "Kicks" from 210 and Streak's "Too Hard" from 212.

On 30 March, after the reveal of the running order, BBC confirmed more acts. Joel and Donna performed three songs: "Acceptatie" as an opening act, plus two brand new songs—"Unbreakable" and "Take Me"—in the interval acts. A song involving Izzy and Dig and Secondiano Tano, the two previous winners which performed again, was announced to be performed, although what it was was kept secret until the final. On the night, Tano performed Izzy and Dig's winning song "Animals" in Maron and Izzy and Dig performed Tano's song "Tsunami" in Linclian. Both performed them in their own genre.

Bisinish influencer Brittany Miles confirmed on her Twitter and Instagram that she would be in a short film called "Brittany's Trip to Wesilu" that was an interval act. After the official Mearthvision Twitter account followed her and retweeted her tweet, this confirmed it.

Outside In's "Welcome", which had placed third in 205, was later confirmed as an opening act. It was performed before the flag parade and "Acceptatie".

## Participating countries

The IBU announced on 26 October that twenty-one countries would participate in the contest. Halsivon withdrew from the contest, and there were no debuting or returning countries. This was the first edition that Porta participated under the status of Active Member, while Fernit remained under LBC.

### Returning artists

Izzy and Dig previously took part in 200 with the song "Animals" and won the contest. Secondiano Tano previously took part in 210 with the song "Tsunami" and won the contest. Jean-Yves Gounelle performed as a backing singer and vocalist for Javee in 214.

Maurycy Rozwadowski, who had provided backing vocals for Karolina Mielcarek and Zdzisława Kowalczyk in 215 and 216 respectively, returned for the third time in a row to provide backing vocals for Wanessa Gwozdz.

#### Spokespersons

The spokespersons announced the points from their respective country's national jury in the following order:

1. Russanplon – Viktor Fukin (Russanplonese representative in 200 and 216)
2. Easatloa – Lucas Bauer
3. Porta – Gracie Wright (Portan representative in 216)
4. Jolivan – Shinobu Segawa (Jolivanese representative in 211 as part of Double-Trouble)
5. Canadina – Clare Bracy (Canadinan representative in 207)
6. Tontin – Ellert Svanþórsson
7. Lincly – Freya Williams (Linclian representative in 216)
8. Bisini – Joel and Donna (Winners of the 216 contest)
9. Northern States of Caronana – Eric Man
10. Lincon – Lauren MacGilfoyle (Linconian representative in 216)
11. Maro – Leonilda De Luise
12. Fernit – Barry Wake
13. Rinasine – Aleksander Tarłów
14. Joliwe – Juan Martin Tenorio
15. Plos – Cécile Renson (Winner of the 213 contest alongside An-Sofie Vandaele)
16. Dania – Lise Droz
17. Yelsiva – Julio Rouco
18. Avino – Abel Carrell (Avinon representative in 215)
19. Noda – Harvey De Luca (Nodan representative in 216)
20. South Yelsiva – Óscar Palau
21. United Republic – Santiago

## Other countries

### Active IBU members

* Halsivon – Halsivese broadcaster TB Khelsivon confirmed in August 216 that they would not participate in the 217 contest, citing constant low placings and the costs. On 3 September, they added that a return in the future was unlikely, as the broadcaster "wanted to focus on other things". Also, during an interview with fan site Vision, the head of the delegation for the contest stated that they were unhappy with the rules of the contest.

## Broadcasters

All participating broadcasters may choose to have on-site or remote commentators providing an insight about the show and voting information to their local audience. Similarly, some non-participating broadcasters may still want to air the contest.

The International Broadcasting Union provided an international live stream of the final through their official YouTube and Vuzu channels with no commentary.

**Broadcasters and commentators in non-participating countries**

## References

1. ↑ "'Something Magical' is the slogan of Mearthvision 217!" *Mearthvision.tv*. October 216. Retrieved 4 December 216.
2. ↑ "This is the logo for Wesilu 217!" *Mearthvision.tv.* 3 December 216. Retrieved 4 December 216.
3. ↑ "Introducing the Mearthvision 217 presenters!" *Mearthvision.tv*. 1 January 217. Retrieved 19 January 217.
4. ↑ @Mearthvision (25 May 209). "You've voted: The best Mearthvision presenters are Amelia Colling and Emilia Holt!" via Twitter. Retrieved 19 January 217.
5. ↑ "Mearthvision Song Contest 217 postcard concept teased" *Mearthvision.tv*. 3 December 217. Retrieved 4 December 217.
6. ↑ "The postcard format is here!" Mearthvision.tv. 17 January 217. Retrieved 25 January 217.
7. ↑ "'Too Hard' to return? These former runner-ups will get their 'Kicks' at the Mearthvision stage" *Mearthvision.tv*. 22 February 217. Retrieved 17 May 217.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "21 countries will do 'Something Magical' at Mearthvision 217 in Wesilu!" *Mearthvision.tv*. 16 November 216. Retrieved 3 December 216.
9. ↑ "Porta — PO:PBC now a full Active Member of the IBU" *Vision*. 12 August 216. Retrieved 4 February 217.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Participants of Wesilu 217 - Mearthvision Song Contest". Mearthvision.tv. 26 October 216. Retrieved 6 December 216.
11. ↑ "Official statement on Halsivon's participation in MSC, Linclian edition". TB Khelsivon. 3 August 216. Retrieved 2 February 217.
12. ↑ "Halsivon – TB Khelsivon confirms non-participation in Mearthvision 217" *Vision*. 3 August 216. Retrieved 2 February 217.
13. ↑ Nolan, Kaylie. "More information on Halsivon's withdrawal in 217" 3 September 216. Retrieved 4 February 217.
14. ↑ "Halsivon – We interview their HoD on non-participation in 217" *Vision*. 27 October 216. Retrieved 2 February 217.
15. ↑ Late replacement for Laura Abellán, who was absent due to illness.