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Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to a Eurovision Song Contest that embraces linguistic diversity
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Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to a Eurovision Song Contest that embraces linguistic diversity

The Seattle Times·JILL LAWLESS The Associated Press·17 days ago
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VIENNA (AP) — English has long been pop music’s dominant language, but it no longer reigns supreme at the Eurovision Song Contest. There are 25 languages, from Albanian to Ukrainian, sung onstage this year at the sequin-drenched international music competition, which reaches its finale in Vienna on Saturday. Eurovision performers increasingly want to share their mother tongues with the world. “It’s easier to talk about your feelings in your native language,” said singer Pete Parkkonen, half of the Finnish duo who are oddsmakers’ favorite to win with scorching voice-violin duet “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower.” “And the main language is love, obviously,” he said. Eurovision once mandated that acts perform in an official language of their country, but since 1999 they have been able to choose any language. For many in the years that followed, English was an obvious choice for artist’s seeking an international audience. Cultural anthropologist Andrew J.…

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