To learn more about these hilarious pics, we got in touch with the creator of Eurovision Meme on Instagram. They were kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share what their favorite aspects of the whole event are.
"I’ve been watching Eurovision since 2012, but I’ve considered myself a true fan since 2017," the creator says. "What I love most about Eurovision are the songs—they’re so unique and unlike anything else. I really enjoy the diversity and the opportunity it gives to showcase different cultures and traditions from across Europe and beyond."
We were also curious about what the creator thought of this year's competition. "My favorite songs this year were from Albania, Austria, Finland and Poland. They all had something special—very distinctive sounds and powerful performances," they shared. "One of my favorite moments was when Albania and Poland received significantly more points from the public than from the jury—it felt like justice from the fans. And of course, it was amazing to see Austria, a European country, win the contest!"
As for where these hilarious memes come from, the creator says they make their own. "Usually based on what I find funniest or the most outrageous moments," they noted. "I also get inspiration from others and often post memes that reflect how I personally feel about a specific situation."
And finally, we were curious about what they'd like to see in next year's contest. "For next year’s competition, I really hope people open their eyes and ears more when voting—both the audience and especially the jury," they shared. "It’s disheartening when genuinely great songs get overlooked or undervalued by the jury."
Finally, the creator added, "Everyone deserves peace and love—especially the kind, honest souls who just want to be accepted as human beings."
The Eurovision Song Contest has been captivating audiences across Europe and beyond since 1956. It has, of course, evolved plenty over time. But at its core, it’s about celebrating music, cultures and bringing Europe (and Australia) together. Whether that’s accomplished by enjoying beautiful music or laughing at hilarious memes from the event, as long as there’s unity, they’ve accomplished their goal!
Some of the most iconic Eurovision winners of all time have been ABBA, Celine Dion (when she was only 20 years old!), Loreen, Lordi, Måneskin, Katrina and the Waves, France Gall, Johnny Logan and many more. But even the contestants who don’t win can be cemented into the Eurovision hall of fame if they manage to make a big splash during their final performance.
In this day and age, when less than 20% of Americans have a cable TV subscription, it’s nearly impossible to get an entire nation gathered around the television to watch the same event, let alone an entire continent! So it’s actually quite impressive that the Eurovision Song Contest continues to pull in nearly 200 million viewers for its finale each year.
As far as why it remains so popular, particularly amongst Gen Z, Nick Levine at the BBC has a few theories. One reason why the competition is so successful is because of its inclusivity and progressive nature. In 1998, Dana International made history by being the first openly trans person to compete at Eurovision. And she actually ended up becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ winner the same year.
Since the ‘90s, plenty of queer icons have performed in Eurovision, as the competition celebrates diversity, inclusion and camp performances. 2024’s winner from Switzerland, Nemo, is nonbinary. And this year’s victor, JJ, is gay. Considering the fact that almost 30% of Gen Zers identify as LGBTQ, many are thrilled to see performers that they can relate to amplified on such a massive platform.
Another one of the most beautiful aspects of Eurovision is the celebration of different cultures. Even if you’ve lived in Europe your entire life, I’m sure there are at least a few countries that you know very little about. How much can you tell me about San Marino, Azerbaijan, and Bosnia & Herzegovina? And would you have any idea what the Lithuanian language sounds like if you didn’t hear it in Luktelk and Tavo Akys? We can learn so much about other countries and their cultures from the songs they submit to Eurovision.
Regardless of how much you enjoyed each individual song from Eurovision this year, you have to admit that the spectacle is always entertaining to watch. From Finland’s raunchy Ich Komme to Estonia’s entertaining yet controversial Espresso Macchiato, there’s no way to watch the show and be bored. For example, France’s entry this year was a beautiful ballad that was expertly sung. However, audiences quickly pointed out that the staging looked unfortunately similar to, well, what someone who has IBS might experience frequently.
Eurovision viewers also couldn’t seem to stop talking about the facial expressions (or lack thereof) of Katarsis, this year’s performers from Lithuania. They’re not incredibly expressive, just like many people from Baltic countries, but they did manage to capture thousands of viewers’ hearts with their powerful song. And as one commenter on TikTok said, “They’re representing us Lithuanians perfectly as we are.”
