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2012 Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest 2012
Light Your Fire!
Eurovision Song Contest 2012.svg
Dates
Semi-final 1 22 May 2012 (2012-05-22)
Semi-final 2 24 May 2012 (2012-05-24)
Final 26 May 2012 (2012-05-26)
Host
Venue Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan
Presenter(s)
Director Ladislaus Kiraly
Executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand
Executive producer Adil Kerimli
Host broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV)
Opening act Final: Alim Qasimov along with traditional Azerbaijani dancers, Ell & Nikki with "Running Scared"
Interval act
Participants
Number of entries 42
Debuting countries None
Returning countries  Montenegro
Withdrawing countries
Vote
Voting system Each country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 points to their 10 favourite songs.
Nul points None
Winning song
Eurovision Song Contest: Baku 2012
ESC 2012 album cover.jpg
Compilation album by Eurovision Song Contest
Released 4 May 2012
Genre Pop
Length
  • 63:02 (CD 1)
  • 62:55 (CD 2)
Label Universal
Eurovision Song Contest chronology
Eurovision Song Contest: Düsseldorf 2011
(2011)
Eurovision Song Contest: Baku 2012
(2012)
Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 2013
(2013)

The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 was the 57th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, following Ell & Nikki's win at the 2011 contest in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song "Running Scared" — marking the first time that the country had won the contest. The contest was held at the newly constructed Baku Crystal Hall, with semi-finals held on 22 and 24 May 2012, followed by the final held on 26 May 2012. Forty-two countries competed in the contest — one less than the record number of 43 set at the previous contest, with Montenegro returning for the first time since 2009, and the withdrawal of Armenia due to security concerns in relation to the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, and Poland due to financial concerns.

The contest was won by singer Loreen from Sweden with the song "Euphoria" — written by Thomas G:son and Peter Boström, the song scored a total of 372 points. Russia finished in second place, with Serbia finishing in third. They were followed by the host country, Azerbaijan, which reached the 4th place. Albania finished 5th, achieving its first top 5 placing. Germany, Italy and Spain were the three members of the "Big Five" that managed to rank within the top 10, finishing in 8th, 9th and 10th places respectively.


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Wikipedia

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