Singer Carmelle gives victory to the Philippines in the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest

The Philippines wins the first Asian edition of Eurovision, the grand final of which was held on Saturday November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. Carmelle, the Filipino candidate, won at the end of an evening of power ballads, pop-dance hits and pyrotechnics orchestrated by the creators of this European kitsch cult. With her title Sobra-Sobra (“Too Much”), a catchy anthem to female emancipation, the young singer won over viewers, the juries of the 11 participating nations and the online public.

The queen of the first ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia is a 19-year-old pop star whose career started since childhood. Her song, which deals with the power of women, is a tribute to “Filipino women: strong, determined, independent”, she confided before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia.

With 211 points, the Philippines edged Thailand, who finished close behind in second place, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos, while Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh languished at the bottom of the points standings.

The first candidates of the Asian competition competed in Thailand with the hope of taking advantage of the notoriety of the giant telehook. Among the artists who performed in the Thai capital, an advisor to the Mongolian government, Malaysian and Vietnamese stars and even a young Bhutanese artist. Many participants had never heard of the world's biggest live music event, the European edition of which attracted 131 million spectators this year.

Different rules

Unlike the European edition organized by public broadcasters, the Asian competition is managed by private television channels, which have often chosen artists who already have a comfortable base. But spectators could not vote for their own country.

The organizers of the competition hope that it will inaugurate a new chapter for Eurovision, a cultural phenomenon in Europe known for its extravagant outfits, its vocal flights and its sometimes delicate geopolitical issues.

A telehook with geopolitical accents

Eurovision, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, goes beyond musical questions. Several countries have boycotted the competition in recent years, denouncing Israel's participation due to its military operation in Gaza triggered by the deadly attacks of October 7.

The unprecedented attack carried out by the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7, 2023 on Israeli soil resulted in the death of 1,221 people, according to an AFP count. The offensive launched in retaliation by Israel in Gaza left more than 74,400 dead, according to the Health Ministry controlled by Hamas and whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. But the Asian edition seems to want to avoid political questions.