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Pre-Song Postcards
Pre-Song Postcards

Sebalter creates his flag in the 2014 Swiss postcard.

The pre-song postcards were introduced at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970 in Amsterdam to introduce each participating country and artist. They were introduced to "waste time" during the contest due to the low number of entrants. In later years, their purpose expanded to allow sufficient time for backstage crew to prepare for the next performance, such as stage cleaning or assembling of props.

The postcards showcased different aspects over the years: many featured scenes of local life or different points of interest around the host country, others featured the artists in various scenarios. Some even had a humorous tone at each country's expense as shown in the 1979 and 1984 postcards. The 1978 contest did not have the inter-song postcards (various shots of the artists backstage were used to introduce the performances), and in the 1980 contest, each country was introduced by a representative speaking in their native language.

Year Format
1987 The postcards featured short films depicting Belgian life and culture. At the end, each artist was superimposed into a comic panel drawn by a well-known Belgian cartoonist sending greetings back to their home country in their native language.
1991 The postcards featured each artist singing a portion of a well-known Italian song before their performance as landmarks and graphics that best fit each artist's personality are added behind.
2008 The postcards centered on ordinary individuals creating the flag of the participating countries, with some using paint as the base material. During the process, a short letter is scribbled on the foreground in the respective languages (with the exception of Serbia's, where it contained "Welcome to Belgrade" or "Welcome to Serbia" in several languages).
2009 Each postcard featured the appearance of Ksenia Sukhinova, a Russian model who was crowned Miss World 2008. It then transitioned to a display of landmarks of the participating country in the form of a pop-up book. Selected landmarks would finally be displayed on top of Sukhinova's head, who would appear with unique hairstyles and make-up, wearing a shirt bearing the colors of the national flag.
2011 The postcards displayed a notable location in Germany using tilt-shift photography. Each postcard showcased the life of ordinary citizens from the participating countries who are living in or visiting Germany (with the exception of Germany itself where it features the majority of the show's production crew). Each of these citizens would then announce the edition's slogan "Feel your heart beat" in their respective languages, or display it in written form.
2012 The postcards showcased various locations around Azerbaijan and its activities in which they are known for, complimented with traditional music. After the end of the postcard, the screen transitioned to a live view of the Baku Crystal Hall, displaying the national flag on its exterior.

Artist Focus[]

Since 2013 (2010 is also considered in this category), the postcards increased their focus on the artists and shifted away from life in the host country, with the intention of "connecting the host city with Europe, and the viewers with the artists between each song".[1]

Year Format
2010 A trail of light would fly over the auditorium and create each country's flag, then footage of each artist waiting backstage to perform would be shown. Back in the auditorium, the flag would change into a screen where a group of people in a major city of that particular country would be shown celebrating in their own way. The light trail would then rearrange itself into the shape of the country before vanishing.
2013 The postcards showcased the life of each artist in their own countries, as a butterfly adorning the colors of their national flag fly by.
2014 The postcards featured each performer in their home country using creative means to replicate their nation's flag. The ideas ranged from using ice (Finland), candy (Germany), clothes (Austria) and dominoes (Switzerland) to big ideas like creating the United Kingdom flag out of mail trucks, double-decker buses and actual people. The artist then takes a picture of their flag creation.
Country Description
Flag of Albania Albania A tattoo of the double-headed eagle on the artist's back, taken under a red transparent film.
Flag of Armenia Armenia A pin made of pomegranate arils, blue embroidery and orange stone (Aram physically wore this pin on his performance outfit during the live shows)
Flag of Austria Austria Red and white dresses hung at different heights.
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Long-exposure of an LED light rod covered in blue, red and green transparent films, with the crescent and star drawn with a flashlight.
Flag of Belarus Belarus Hockey pucks placed on an ice rink.
Flag of Belgium Belgium A garment knitted on-site at a laundromat, then shrunk after a round of washing.
Flag of Denmark Denmark Street art illusion of various furniture painted in red and white.
Flag of Estonia Estonia Shipping containers stacked on top of one another.
Flag of Finland Finland Carved ice blocks
Flag of France France Plumes of blue, white and red smoke from cylinders attached to moving bicycles
Flag of Georgia Georgia Multiple glasses of wine placed against white flooring.
Flag of Germany Germany Rock candy
Flag of Greece Greece Seashells placed on a blue mat.
Flag of Hungary Hungary Stacks of completed Rubik's cubes.
Flag of Iceland Iceland Screen projection against the Skógafoss waterfall.
Flag of Ireland Ireland Inflated balloons
Flag of Israel Israel Blue bands of cloth and a Star of David wrapped around two poles set against the backdrop of the Dead Sea
Flag of Italy Italy Basil leaves, sliced mozzarella and tomatoes
Flag of Latvia Latvia Sheet cake decorated with cranberries and a stripe of white fondant in the middle
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Umbrellas
Flag of Macedonia North Macedonia Sound vibrations from Tijana's cello moving yellow beads on a red background
Flag of Malta Malta Red and white firecrackers set off against an iron frame
Flag of Moldova Moldova Three clay pots each with the national flag colors.
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Puzzle pieces of the flag are completed with the help of two children.
Flag of The Netherlands The Netherlands Tulips
Flag of Norway Norway Tinted glassware
Flag of Poland Poland A visual of Cleo's recorded voice pattern on a monitor
Flag of Portugal Portugal Red body paint with part of the coat of arms, positioned against the national flag.
Flag of Romania Romania A reflection of fireworks on a lake
Flag of Russia Russia Rows of white, blue and red LEDs found within a mirror maze.
Flag of San Marino San Marino Painting of the flag in an aircraft hangar.
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Multiple stacks of books with white, red or blue covers.
Flag of Spain Spain Yellow and red threads wrapped around pillars.
Flag of Sweden Sweden Inflatable pool floats placed on a swimming pool.
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Dominoes
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Yellow sticky notes pasted on the edge of a train platform, taken with a blue train carriage.
Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom AEC Routemaster buses, Royal Mail vans over white paper, with several people wearing blue raincoats.
2015 The postcards consist of two parts: The first part consisting of each of the participants receiving a mystery package from Vienna in their own countries which contained a single object. The recipient then participated in an activity somewhere around Austria related to the object in the package. At the end, a still photo of the artist and the group they are with is superimposed onto billboards, bus shelters and posters around Vienna.
Country Item Activity Location
Flag of Albania Albania Snowplow key Driving a snowplow Voralberg
Flag of Armenia Armenia Tokens and cards Day out at Prater Vienna
IconAustralia Australia Wooden charm Surfing in Salzburg City Salzburg
Flag of Austria Austria Sweatbands Wildsau Dirt Run Hellsklamm
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Zippo lighter Fire performance Bregenz
Flag of Belarus Belarus Makeup brush Filmed musical performance Vienna
Flag of Belgium Belgium Cassette tape Street dancing Eisenstadt
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus Paddleboard fin Standup paddleboarding Rust
Flag of Czech Republic Czechia Treasure chest key Tour of Ehrenberg Castle Reutte
Flag of Denmark Denmark Tyrolean hat Toboggan racing Lesachtal
Flag of Estonia Estonia Skateboarding gloves Skateboarding Mattsee
Flag of Finland Finland Peak cap Tour of Vienna's public transportation Vienna
Flag of France France Tea set Photoshooting of a tea party Bad Ischl
Flag of Georgia Georgia Black lace Making a skirt Graz
Flag of Germany Germany Ski goggles Ski jumping simulation Vienna
Flag of Greece Greece Hammer Boat construction with schoolchildren Bregenz
Flag of Hungary Hungary Firefighting part Firefighting training Tulln an der Donau
Flag of Iceland Iceland Jar of glitter Theatrical performance Vienna
Flag of Ireland Ireland Beekeeper's hat Making honey Jois
Flag of Israel Israel Eye mask Cable car spray painting Lech am Arlberg
Flag of Italy Italy Wristbands Wheelchair basketball Vienna
Flag of Latvia Latvia Pink hoodie Making human sculptures with locals Salzburg
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Safety harness Bungee jumping Jauntal
Flag of Macedonia North Macedonia Headband light Night cross-country skiing Kitzbühel
Flag of Malta Malta Skydiving goggles Skydiving Zell am See
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Fishing hooks Fishing Salzkammergut
Flag of The Netherlands The Netherlands Compass Hot air balloon ride Klagenfurt
Flag of Poland Poland Chef's toque Baking Vienna
Flag of Portugal Portugal Snap hooks Hiking Dürnstein
Flag of Romania Romania Horse tag Harness racing Baden bei Wien
Flag of Russia Russia Crystal piece Tour of Swarovski Kristallwelten Wattens
Flag of San Marino San Marino Flower crown Attending the Life Ball Vienna
Flag of Serbia Serbia Block print Textile making Steinberg
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Sugar cubes Tour of Piber Federal Stud Köflach
Flag of Spain Spain Black beanie Dog sledding Angerberg
Flag of Sweden Sweden "Outer space" ticket Tour of Dachstein Ice Cave Dachstein
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Hockey puck Playing ice hockey Weissensee
Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Pair of light-up wands Playing with drones Linz
2016 The postcards told the stories of a day in the personal and professional lives of each artist in their own countries, as stylized names of their countries are displayed and dandelions in their national colors fly.
2017 The postcards start off with each artist doing the Mannequin Challenge in a tunnel followed by “flashbacks” of the singers being themselves and preparing for the contest in their host country, ending with the artists proceeding to walk on stage.
2018 The postcards featured the artist(s) going to various locales across Portugal and engaging in various local activities, ending with them posting a selfie with the edition's official hashtag "#allaboard" displayed onscreen, followed with a display of the name of the country, song and other data amidst a background of underwater plants displaying the colors of the competing nation.
Country Activity Location
Flag of Albania Albania Gondola ride Aveiro
Flag of Armenia Armenia Grândola
IconAustralia Australia Lisbon
Flag of Austria Austria Cycling Monsanto
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Hot air balloon ride Monsaraz
Flag of Belarus Belarus Clock maintenance at Praça do Comércio Lisbon
Flag of Belgium Belgium Sailing Lisbon
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria Lisbon
Flag of Croatia Croatia Talasnal
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus Food tour at Mercado da Ribeira Lisbon
Flag of Czech Republic Czechia Careto festival Podence
Flag of Denmark Denmark Tour of the Palace of Mafra Mafra
Flag of Estonia Estonia Mountain climbing Sintra
Flag of Finland Finland Playing golf Albufeira
Flag of France France Viana do Castelo
Flag of Georgia Georgia Lunar New Year Parade Lisbon
Flag of Germany Germany Sky gliding Calheta, Madeira
Flag of Greece Greece Making a porcelain bird sculpture Ílhavo
Flag of Hungary Hungary Making chocolate Óbidos
Flag of Iceland Iceland Puppet doll crafting Lisbon
Flag of Ireland Ireland Scuba diving Porto Santo, Madeira
Flag of Israel Israel Lisbon
Flag of Italy Italy Porto
Flag of Latvia Latvia Standup paddleboarding Benagil
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Classical car riding Caramulo
Flag of Macedonia North Macedonia Tile painting Lisbon
Flag of Malta Malta Tour of Coudelaria De Alter Alter do Chão
Flag of Moldova Moldova Tour of the Vidago Palace Hotel Vidago
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Shopping at Feira da Ladra Lisbon
Flag of The Netherlands The Netherlands Making Pastel de nata Lisbon
Flag of Norway Norway Spray painting Lisbon
Flag of Poland Poland Skateboarding, surfboard crafting
Flag of Portugal Portugal Lisbon
Flag of Romania Romania Tour of Arouca Geopark Arouca
Flag of Russia Russia Tour of Lisbon Oceanarium Lisbon
Flag of San Marino San Marino Toboggan ride Funchal, Madeira
Flag of Serbia Serbia Wine cellar tour Porto
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Faial, Azores
Flag of Spain Spain São Miguel, Azores
Flag of Sweden Sweden Churning cheese Serra da Estrela
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Helicopter tour Porto
Flag of The Netherlands The Netherlands Making pastel de nata Lisbon
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Horse ride Vila Nova de Milfontes
Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Tea leaf picking São Miguel, Azores
2019 The postcards featured the artists walking around various locales in Israel, pressing an imaginary play button (a wireframe triangle made of light), leading them into a dance-off with local dancers, before casting another triangle onto the screen and into the arena, where it joins an array of triangles hovering over the stage forming the flag of the participating nation. Many acts posted from their postcard filming when recording.
2021 The postcards were filmed in the format of a "tiny house" located in various locations around the Netherlands. Each house contained items that personally connected to each of the artists. Owing to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the artists appear in these tiny houses via chroma keying, filmed from their respective countries. A white light then hits the corner of the house, refracts and becomes the colors of each country's flag, which then travels to the venue and lights up around the stage prior to each performance.
2022 The postcards featured Leo the Drone flying in various locations around Italy. Similar to the 2021 postcards, artists are filmed from their respective countries, with their appearances projected onto natural or man-made structures.
2023 Inspired by the "United by Music" theme, the postcards started with a scene in a location in Ukraine, followed by a similar location in the United Kingdom. It would then move to a location in the artist's home country, participating in an activity of their choosing.
Country Ukraine Location UK Location Home Country Location
Flag of Albania Albania Sofiyivka Park, Uman Sefton Park, Liverpool Grand Park of Tirana
Flag of Armenia Armenia Lviv University Botanical Garden Eden Project, Cornwall Yerevan Botanical Garden
IconAustralia Australia Glass Bridge, Kyiv Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Matagarup Bridge, Perth
Flag of Austria Austria Lviv Town Hall Sheffield Town Hall Rathaus, Vienna
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv Centenary Square, Birmingham Baku Boulevard
Flag of Belgium Belgium Independence Monument, Kyiv Angel of the North, Gateshead Atomium, Brussels
Flag of Croatia Croatia Kyiv River Port Whitby Harbour, North Yorkshire Port of Rijeka
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus Kyiv Sea beach Brighton Beach, East Sussex Akti Olympion Beach, Limassol
Flag of Czech Republic Czechia Green Maze, Zhytomyr Peace Maze, Castlewellan Yew Maze, Loučeň Castle
Flag of Denmark Denmark Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Copenhagen Opera House
Flag of Estonia Estonia Vinnytsia water tower Blackpool Tower, Lancashire TV Tower, Tallinn
Flag of Finland Finland Podil ferris wheel, Kyiv Wheel of Liverpool SkyWheel, Helsinki
Flag of France France Potocki Palace, Lviv Hopetoun House, West Lothian Château de Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne
Flag of Georgia Georgia Old Town, Lviv Port Sunlight, Merseyside Old Town, Tblisi
Flag of Germany Germany Rusanivka, Kyiv Bridgewater Canal, Greater Manchester Keerwiederfleet Canal, Hamburg
Flag of Greece Greece Tarakaniv Fort, Rivne Oblast region Dunluce Castle, County Antrim Temple of Poseidon, Sounion
Flag of Iceland Iceland Maniava waterfall, Gorgany Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys Kvernufoss, Skógar region
Flag of Ireland Ireland Mountain road in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast region Military Road, Isle of Wight Sally Gap, County Wicklow
Flag of Israel Israel Urytski rocks in the Skole Beskids mountain range Stonehenge, Wiltshire Masada, Judaean Desert
Flag of Italy Italy Kyiv Velodrome Pump Track Wales, Rhayader Circus Maximus, Rome
Flag of Latvia Latvia Ecospace pods, Kyiv Sea Beach huts at Boscombe beach, Bournemouth Melnsils, Talsi Municipality
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Khotyn Fortress, Chernivtsi Oblast Eilean Donan, Scottish Highlands Trakai Island Castle
Flag of Malta Malta Lviv autobus London red double-decker bus Vintage bus in Mellieħa
Flag of Moldova Moldova Skole Beskids Forest, Lviv Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire Orhei National Park, Trebujeni
Flag of The Netherlands The Netherlands Comfort Town, Kyiv Portmeirion, Gwynedd Zaandam, North Holland
Flag of Norway Norway Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine Liverpool Central Library Oslo Public Library
Flag of Poland Poland Chernivtsi University Trinity College, Cambridge Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw
Flag of Portugal Portugal St Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire Church of Santa Engrácia, Lisbon
Flag of Romania Romania Taras Shevchenko statue, Lviv The Beatles Statue, Liverpool A Carriage with Clowns sculpture, Bucharest
Flag of San Marino San Marino Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, Khmelnytskyi Oblast Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex Guaita, Monte Titano
Flag of Serbia Serbia Park3020, Lviv region Tate Liverpool Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Tetris Hall rooftop, Kyiv Goodness Gracious Roof Bar, Liverpool Radio Slovenija rooftop, Ljubljana
Flag of Spain Spain Amphitheater, Uzhhorod Minack Theatre, Cornwall Roman Theatre, Sagunto
Flag of Sweden Sweden Anti-Circe Island, Uman St Catherine's Island, Tenby Enholmen, Gotland
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Lake Buchak, Cherkasy Oblast Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands Lake Zurich
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Street murals in Kyiv Street murals in Belfast Art-Zavod Platforma, Kyiv
Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Dnieper, Kyiv River Mersey, Liverpool River Thames, London

Postcard Examples[]

Postcard_of_Switzerland_-_Eurovision_2021

Postcard of Switzerland - Eurovision 2021

Eurovision Song Contest
Editions
195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Countries
AlbaniaAndorraArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBelarusBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandIsraelItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMoldovaMonacoMontenegroMoroccoThe NetherlandsNorth MacedoniaNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSan MarinoSerbiaSerbia and MontenegroSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited KingdomUkraineYugoslavia
Winning Songs
RefrainNet Als ToenDors, mon amourEen beetjeTom PillibiNous les amoureuxUn premier amourDanseviseNon ho l'etàPoupée de Cire, Poupée de SonMerci, ChériePuppet on a StringLa, La, LaBoom Bang-a-BangVivo CantandoUn jour, un enfantDe TroubadourAll Kinds of EverythingUn banc, un arbre, une rueAprès ToiTu Te ReconnaîtrasWaterlooDing-a-DongSave Your Kisses For MeL'Oiseau et l'enfantA-Ba-Ni-BiHallelujahWhat's Another YearMaking Your Mind UpEin bißchen FriedenSi la vie est cadeauDiggiloo DiggileyLa Det SwingeJ'aime La VieHold Me NowNe Partez Pas Sans MoiRock MeInsieme: 1992Fångad av en stormvindWhy Me?In Your EyesRock 'n' Roll KidsNocturneThe VoiceLove Shine a LightDivaTake Me To Your HeavenFly on the Wings of LoveEverybodyI WannaEveryway That I CanWild DancesMy Number OneHard Rock HallelujahMolitvaBelieveFairytaleSatelliteRunning ScaredEuphoriaOnly TeardropsRise Like a PhoenixHeroes1944Amar pelos doisToyArcadeZitti e buoniStefaniaTattoo
Specials
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision's Greatest HitsEurope Shine a Light
Aspects of Eurovision
CommentatorEuroClubEurovision VillageExecutive SupervisorFlag ParadeGrand PrixGreen RoomHead of DelegationInterval ActNational FinalNational JuryOfficial RulesOpening CeremonyPre-PartiesPre-Song PostcardsReference GroupRest of the World VoteRunning Order DrawSemi-FinalsScoreboardSpokespersonTelevotingVoting Systems
Miscellaneous
Big FiveCurse of 43Curse of Number TwoCurse of GreenDouze Points!ESCRadio AwardsESC Top 250Eurovision AgainEurovision National BroadcastersEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire SagaFounding SevenLGBT visibilityLynda WoodruffMarcel Bezençon AwardsNul PointsOGAERecordsStand-insThe Reorder BoardTie SituationTop Scoring SongsVoting DiasporaWinner's CurseWithdrawn SongsYou're a Vision Award

References[]

  1. Eurovision Song Contest 2013: The postcards. ESCToday (19 February 2013).
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