The cancellation of the 2020 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, due to the crisis triggered by the new coronavirus, is a first in the history of this competition. France 2 nevertheless broadcasts on Saturday May 16, from 8:55 p.m., a special program around the titles which were to compete.

Tonight should have taken place the 65th edition of Eurovision in Rotterdam. The cancellation of the competition is a blow for the 41 artists selected to represent their country. But at the time of Covid-19, culture is reinventing itself, online or on television, and Eurovision is no exception. France 2 broadcasts a special program on Saturday evening, which will be broadcast in around 40 other countries.

There will be neither winner nor loser, but a broadcast of the 41 songs of the 2020 vintage of Eurovision, like The Best In Me for France, interpreted by Tom Leeb, not disappointed with the cancellation of the event. "I did not collapse saying to myself 'why the only time or it was canceled it must fall on me'," assures the singer. "I think it's still a great way to celebrate Eurovision."

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Iceland and Russia, the two favorites of this phantom edition

Among the favorites was Iceland, with a pop song with disco flavors. Its success is also due to the wacky clip of the group Daoi Freyr, and especially their very wacky dance on the chorus. The result: 7 million views on YouTube in three months.

Russia too had its chances, with Uno , song by the group Little Big, with a clubbing and futuristic vibe, which has already accumulated 93 million views.

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A new song

But this revisited Eurovision will revolve around a hymn: Love Shine A Light , title of the United Kingdom, winner of the competition in 1997. The artists who should have been in Rotterdam tonight each sang it from home, then all of their voices were layered. This new version will be unveiled at 8:55 p.m. on France 2.