What happens if an artist is incapacitated?

[Fluke]

I'm not sure if there's been any such cases in Eurovision history - certainly not very recently, but what really happens if an artist is entirely incapable of performing - either unable to sing, sent to hospital or absent for other reasons. Hell, they could just even decide to "screw it" at the last moment and refuse to show up - which almost happened with Sweden 2009.

If it's one person who's part of a group i guess it would be acceptable to find a substitute, but what it if it's a solo artist? Can the national team just find someone else to sing the same song at last moment's notice? Would that be allowed, if the original artist is unable to perform?

 

[ClassifiedCat]

I don't know either but I think that either there are other choices or a backimg singer does.

 

[Happiness]

Hungary changed their entry for three times back in 2009 if I remember correctly. Which means entry is able to be changed, Eurovision gave Hungary a warning in case of any other change, they could've been banned for 3 years though. Also Iceland has represented their country with same song but another singer -- with a band in 2011, because the actual singer was passed away. But I'm not sure if he passed before the national final or after. So entry or only singer, both are able to be changed as it seems like?

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Hell, they could just even decide to "screw it" at the last moment and refuse to show up - which almost happened with Sweden 2009.

What happened? I dont remember it lol

 

[CPV4931]

[...] Also Iceland has represented their country with same song but another singer -- with a band in 2011, because the actual singer was passed away. But I'm not sure if he passed before the national final or after. So entry or only singer, both are able to be changed as it seems like?

Sjonni Brink, Iceland´s singer in 2011, passed away on 17th January, the NF took place almoth a month later

 

[Fluke]

As far as i got it... Malena Ernman was booked for some opera performance at the same time as the ESC, as she had never expected to win the Swedish selection. She arrived much later than all other performers and only appeared for the very last rehearsals before the actual contest. Then she threathened to pull out right before the semi, along with the Netherlands and a few other countries, because the Russian government refused to allow some gay rights demonstration. Of course this boycott didn't happen, though i dunno if the demonstration did. Boy, that was one of the craziest years ever, hard to think it's already 5 years ago!

Either way, her actual performance was okay... though the staging was dull and uninspired. Funny how one of the most professional singers Sweden ever sent must have come across as the most difficult at the actual contest....it got 21st place.

 

[Matt]

Hungary changed their entry for three times back in 2009 if I remember correctly. Which means entry is able to be changed, Eurovision gave Hungary a warning in case of any other change, they could've been banned for 3 years though. Also Iceland has represented their country with same song but another singer -- with a band in 2011, because the actual singer was passed away. But I'm not sure if he passed before the national final or after. So entry or only singer, both are able to be changed as it seems like?

Hungary changed the song PRIOR to the deadline which is a big difference. Once you pass it you can't really change a song. Per the rules, if an act cannot take part for whatever reason, the broadcater still has to pay the participation fees (including a penality fee) but can still technically withdraw. Depending on the circumstances I can see the EBU making an exception letting a country choose a different entry should it be due to a major illness, death etc though I don't believe there is an actual rule for that out there.

 

[anto475]

Hungary changed the song PRIOR to the deadline which is a big difference. Once you pass it you can't really change a song. Per the rules, if an act cannot take part for whatever reason, the broadcater still has to pay the participation fees (including a penality fee) but can still technically withdraw. Depending on the circumstances I can see the EBU making an exception letting a country choose a different entry should it be due to a major illness, death etc though I don't believe there is an actual rule for that out there.

Would that result then in a Serbia-Montenegro 2006 type situation, whereby the country would still get to vote? (and then promise to send the best song next year?)

 

[toinou03]

Hungary changed their entry for three times back in 2009 if I remember correctly. Which means entry is able to be changed, Eurovision gave Hungary a warning in case of any other change, they could've been banned for 3 years though. Also Iceland has represented their country with same song but another singer -- with a band in 2011, because the actual singer was passed away. But I'm not sure if he passed before the national final or after. So entry or only singer, both are able to be changed as it seems like?

Indeed as Matt said, changed their entry before the deadline (because their entry was an old Big Brother theme ) and the 2nd entrant, Katia Tompos didn't seem to be aware he was part of any selection 3

Well, it's always said in 1973 the singer was about to refuse singing and set to be replaced with another one. There was a thing with 1998 AFAIK but I don't remember what exactly...

I think that it's the entry that counts, not the act. If a singer can't go, he/she can be replaced, as did in 2011 3. Well, before the deadline, but after the NF !

 

[balizeg]

Belgium in 1971 is a case close that. Nicole & Hugo were to perform Goeie morgen, morgen but because of Nicole's illness they couldnt go in the last minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WrmkpLjewA they were performing in the preview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7o-RmdfJ0 Lily Castel & Jacques Raymond performed at esc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv6VLxU9Jzo heres a video about their rehearsals. with my limited knowledge of Flemish, i think the first question by the reporter was why they picked them as a replacement.

 

[Fluke]

Another question is - what if a song is declared illicit, either for plagiarism or having been revealed too early, when it's too late to change it? I can picture that they wouldn't even care if it's revealed that late, they just have to check such things before the final preparations begin.