The Eurovision song contest is expanding its reach, bringing its long-standing European tradition to Bangkok next week for the inaugural Asian edition. While the competition aims to replicate the fanfare seen in Europe, much of the region is still adjusting to the format, as the 11 participating acts prepare for their three minutes of global exposure. Many of these performers had never even heard of the competition before being selected to represent their respective countries.
Among the contenders is Nyendra, a 24-year-old bar singer from Bhutan. Nyendra, who had never heard of the contest until a friend suggested he enter a year ago, is making his first-ever trip outside his home country to perform in Thailand. Having spent the last five years singing in restaurants and bars in Thimphu, he will perform his song, Lhayi Semo (ལྷ་ཡི་སྲས་མོ), which translates roughly to “the angel.” Sung in the national language of Dzongkha, he describes the track as a sad love song about longing for an unseen person. Representing a nation of 800,000 people, Nyendra views the experience as a significant opportunity to bring a positive impact to Bhutan. He noted that his family was in disbelief when he chose music over steadier work, and his uncle was seen jumping and kissing the screen when the national final was broadcast in August. Having never been on a plane or a train before, he says he feels blessed to represent his country.
Representing South Korea is 32-year-old Junhee, a K-pop veteran who debuted in 2017 as the leader of the group A.C.E. Now a solo artist under his own label, Junhee has adapted his entry, Deep Dive, to showcase a hybrid sound that blends progressive EDM with hip-hop, rap, and R&B elements. He co-wrote the lyrics with AleXa, the winner of the 2022 American Song Contest. Acknowledging that international audiences expect K-pop from a Korean representative, Junhee has studied previous Eurovision performances and is planning an ambitious stage show, stating that he is in the competition with the goal of winning. He noted that the three-minute limit and performer cap were the most challenging aspects of the production.
Nineteen-year-old Carmelle, a Filipino singer who grew up in the Bicol region, also joins the lineup. Known in the Philippines as the “railway track diva” because she grew up in a house beside the tracks, she rose to fame after winning the televised singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan last year. Her entry, Sobra-Sobra, is a fusion of pop and rap that incorporates traditional Philippine instruments like the kubing and kulintang. Sung in both Tagalog and English, the song is intended to celebrate the strength and independence of Filipinas. While balancing daily vocal training with her studies as a first-year psychology student, Carmelle expressed that she views representing her country as a significant honor and responsibility, hoping to showcase the quality of original Pilipino music.
As the competition approaches, organizers are looking to build the same enthusiasm that has sustained the European version of the contest for seven decades. Despite the lack of established fanbases in the region, the contestants are already building rapport, with many, including Nyendra, Junhee, and Carmelle, connecting via social media ahead of their arrival in Bangkok. Carmelle noted that she is particularly looking forward to meeting her co-finalists in person.
Indeed, many of the 11 acts taking the stage next weekend for their three minutes of fame had never heard of the competition before they were chosen to represent their countries.
Used to staging bigger and longer productions, the 32-year-old found the three-minute limit and the cap on performers the hardest part. “There’s so much I want to show.”
