Eurovision Junior 2024: the results (1/3) – return to the live broadcast

On November 16, in Madrid, Georgia won Junior Eurovision, winning almost all of the 12 points from the juries, to everyone’s surprise. After a week to integrate this victory, summary of this very surprising ceremony.

6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Schedules are precise and must be respected. While the adult edition knows how to expand and takes its time, the junior edition does not bother with lengthy speeches and aims for efficiency. With some success.

6 p.m. sharp. THE God bless you sounds, the ceremony begins. The opening is around the slogan “Let’s Bloom”, the artists are young plants ready to bloom. The singers Maria Isabel (victory in 2004 for Spain), Sandra Valero (second in 2023) and Zoé Clauzure (reigning winner for France) celebrate the diversity of the participants. If the lyrics aren’t enough, the song starts with Zoé in a flower opening and from which she comes out to sing, we’ve known more subtle… The stage allows these effects thanks to a large vertical LED screen in the background as well as LEDs in the floor and, around it, decorative floral elements.

The parade follows very quickly, in English alphabetical order and not according to the order of passage as for adults, at the end of which all the participants remain on stage to participate in the emblematic song of the edition. Then arrive Ruth Lorenzo, Melani García and Marc Clotet, our three presenters for the evening, who after a short speech talk about the deadly floods in Valencia. But Show must go on and very quickly arrive the 17 performances interspersed with rare moments in the Green Room. Small innovation, the postcards before each song mix real sequences and elements generated by AI. It’s not always grand, but the modern aesthetic can appeal to an audience. After 1 hour 15 minutes, everyone has passed and the votes are open.

To wait, the intermission is divided into two parts. First of all, a choreography is performed, a little dark, even very dark for a junior, called Time to Bloom (if you haven’t understood the main thread of this ceremony, I don’t know what you need). We see a young girl looking for her way and who ends up finding it by climbing a ladder (this is obviously summarized). It’s pretty but a little dark. Then comes the singer Abraham Mateo, a star in Spain, who performs his cover Maniac. It changes the atmosphere, it’s danceable and luminous, it’s another universe. The EBU is doing everything to show this diverse youth, ready to express themselves.

Only 20 minutes remain to announce the points of the juries and then the public. Moreover, we notice the absence of Martin Österdahl, the executive supervisor, booed since last year and the throes of adult publishing. And this is an important innovation! How to explain simply… It must be said that you have to see it to understand it. The announcement of the jury’s points is divided into two stages. First, we see on a table every 1 point, then every 2 points, then 3, 4… up to 10 points. Secondly, each jury announces its 12 points country by country, with frightening speed.

And the moment of 12 points is incredible! Georgia takes the top scores one after the other. Out of the sixteen 12 possible points (there are 17 countries but the juries cannot vote for theirs), the country gets 12!! At the end of the jury vote, Georgia has 180 points, the maximum admissible points being 192 (93% of possible points!!!), while the second, Ukraine is far behind at 122 points. Barring a huge misstep, Georgia is at this point almost sure to win. And very quickly, we move on to announcing the public’s points. Georgia receives 59, which places it in sixth place among the public. It’s honorable, but nothing exceptional. It’s just enough to win while Portugal gleans 117 points, double, but the power of the juries has already done its work.

The ceremony ends very quickly, Zéo Clauzure presents the trophy to the Georgian winner who performs his song again. 8 p.m., the timing is good. We can put the children to bed.

© Corinne Cumming | UER