Eurovision Asia Is Finally Real

Eurovision Asia is no longer a rumour whispered in bars and fan threads. It has a locked date, a locked city, and enough real details to start making plans. 

We also run through the first ten confirmed participating countries:  A mix of big players and smaller nations with massive talent, giving us new scenes to discover and new neighbours to obsess over. Then we do what everyone is already doing, we talk South Korea. If K pop is the field, is the trophy basically booked? We weigh the BTS chatter against the six on stage rule, throw around other possibilities like Blackpink and Psy, and even explore a comeback storyline with T.O.P.

If you’re hyped, nervous, or both, listen now and share this with the friend who always picks the winner early. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us who you want to represent your country at Eurovision Asia.

PS The secret word is in fact: Acronym

#eurovision #eurovisionsong contest #eurovisionpodcast #eurovisionaustralia #eurovisionfunny

Transcript

Greetings And Big Tease

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Bonjour, good dog, prevent, hello, and Sawati Cup. Hello, and that's right. Welcome to Juice Pois, Asia. That's right, my beloveds. It has been talked about, suggested, tweeted, and passionately discussed across bars in Europe. But it turns out after years, after years of false starts of, oh, it's gonna happen. It's just an idea. It's definitely gonna happen. It will never happen. It seems it's probably literally gonna happen. Eurovision Asia. It really sort of has become a pipe dream over the years that I think Eurovision fans eventually sort of began to regard it as a unicorn, which was lovely to believe in, but no one ever actually believed it was gonna happen anymore. Then seemingly just out of the blue, Eurovision, I think rather nonchalantly, is oh, by the way, Eurovision Asia definitely happened. We've booked a venue. Here's a date. What? Did you say there's a date? Yes, there is a date. It has been locked in. Everybody run to work on Monday and book in your leave. It is happening. And it's happening this year. 14th of November 2026. Which is fabulous timing. While everybody is scrambling and fighting to get that holiday leave in December, they're leaving November completely free. Book that time in. 14th of November 2026. Let me say it again. I think a lot of us are still in bel disbelief this is actually happening. Eurovision Asia, scheduled to occur on the 14th of November 2026. The other reason that they have only scheduled in one evening and not the 30 days that is scheduled for Eurovision with its 396 million performances. At least sometimes it feels that way. How long is the average grand final now? What is it? Four, five, six days? Something like that. So far, they have released and confirmed that there are 10 broadcasters representing 10 countries competing at the very first Eurovision Asia. Now they have hinted, there is a little bit of a wink-wink going on, that there is more to come. The jury is out if there really are more countries to come, or if it is still a matter of just trying to get paperwork signed, or maybe hopefully, as excitement builds, more countries can be signed on. Now, the first ever Eurovision Asia is scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand. Eurovision in partnership with Thailand's broadcaster Channel 3. Now, already we can see from the 10 countries that have signed on. It is a unique blend of larger countries, economic powerhouses, and smaller countries with a rich and beautiful voice that often doesn't get seen on the larger stage. And this is part of the reason why we love Eurovision. It gives a voice and an opportunity for us to discover the world and our neighbors, not just the usual suspects. So here are the 10 countries. Some you're going to be very familiar with. Some you may go, ooh, have to do a little bit of an online search. And already that's one of the reasons why I love Eurovision. It is opening up the world to our neighbors. Bangladesh and TV Broadcaster, Bhutan from the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, or the BBS, Cambodia, TV5, Cambodia, Lao, Broadcaster, VTE9, Malaysia, Media Prima, TV three, Nepal, Himalaya TV, the Philippines, ABS, CBN Broadcaster, South Korea, ENA produced by PK Inc. Thailand, the host, as we discussed, Channel 3. Also Vietnam, Vietnam Television, VTV3. VTV3. It sounds like a K-pop band name. I don't know who Vietnam has picked, but I think the broadcaster, if I was them, I would create a boy band, a lady band straight away, and just call them the VTV3. So the participating countries again Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. I have to say the first sort of list that I saw when they were discussing Eurovision Asia, I can't remember where I saw the list, but it didn't have South Korea on it. And I was absolutely aghast because let's be honest, when it comes to pop music, let's be honest, K-pop doesn't just lead the field, K-pop is the field. And I don't think I'm going out on a limb here to say if I was a betting person, South Korea, hands down, has to be the complete odds-on favorite to win this contest, not even knowing who's even going to perform, but knowing the unmistakable pizzazz that is K-pop? Eh. Surely they already have the trophy in their hands. Surely it's just up to South Korea to lose it. I have already been hearing people having all excited discussions about who is going to represent South Korea at the first ever Eurovision Asia. Is South Korea going to commit to the level that they are going to send one of their absolute powerhouses? You know who I'm talking about. Could they be sending BTS? And I'm not even going to say, in case you don't know BTS, everyone knows BTS. Even if you think you don't know BTS, trust me, you know BTS. They are everywhere. There are pros and cons to this theory of BTS representing South Korea at Eurovision Asia. The first thing that goes against it being BTS is the simple fact there's seven members of BTS and how many people are allowed on the Eurovision stage? That's right. Only six. Who would you possibly leave out? I know just recently a member of BTS RM actually suffered an ankle sprain during recent performances and so was forced to perform in a cast. Pretty much everyone had to move around him as he hopped around. Perhaps they could just leave him offside. I don't see, I just don't picture BTS wanting to leave someone off for the biggest show on earth. Although the other reason that people look towards it could be BTS on the stage are the simple fact BTS are oh undertaking a world tour where it seems they literally are touring the world. Everywhere from San Pau in Brazil to Hong Kong to Colombia. Now interesting, this months and months of touring. Their last concert date is October 31st in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So that would actually give them two weeks to have, well, five minutes to rest and then travel to Bangkok to represent South Korea. That's just one of the possibilities. Of course, it could be anyone. It could be Blackpink, my personal favorite. Could they possibly be sending Sai or up on Gangnam style? Of course! The ultimate performer whose streams on YouTube reach the billions, not the millions, the billions. And we all remember the concert that he played on the border of North and South Korea. If you've ever seen that concert, many people rightly describe as the closest we ever came to world peace. Could South Korea be bringing out its biggest gun? It's also been suggested that we could actually be seeing one of Squid Game's favorite actors on the Eurovision Asia stage. For those who have seen Squid Game, one of its most infamous characters is the purple-headed Thanos, who of course plays a rapper with a drug habit who has fallen on bad times. In real life, that actor, Top, was at the apex peak of K-pop in, of course, the band Big Bang, but lost it all after he was arrested and convicted for drug charges. Essentially went into hiding from the social light for 11 years. This is the thing though, South Korea has such a hard line on drugs. For the rest of us, when we hear, oh, he had a problem with drugs. We are imagining doing all of the cocaine, all of the heroin, all of the meth, driving off a cliff. He was found guilty of smoking four joints on two separate occasions. So two joints on two of those occasions, and he lost his career. Interest in his music has come back with such a powerful surge after Squid Game Series 2. Team now relaunching new music and a new album. This could be an exciting way for him to become or to return as one of the biggest K-pop performers. But does South Korea will they allow the former convicted for joint drug consumer to represent South Korea on the big stage? Obviously, there are also nine other countries with nine unique music scapes to bring to the stage. So what we are planning to do here at Deuce Podcast is after European Eurovision 2026. Obviously, we will have our post reviews and commentaries. But then later on the year, as we move closer towards Eurovision Asia, we're gonna begin a series of episodes that we are gonna dedicate exclusively to Eurovision Asia. We are gonna have a look at all the different countries that will be competing. We are gonna dive deep to find the interesting and quirky style and history, as well as some of the more obscure facts that have helped to shape these countries and who they are sending to the competition. As we look at all the possibilities, as well as what are some of the potential missteps for Eurovision Asia. And I think one of the most interesting things that are gonna play out is obviously one of the reasons that we love Eurovision is it gives freedom, expression, and recognition to everyone competing at Eurovision and has really provided over the years a very strong voice for gay rights members of the LGBQTI community, as well as taking huge strives in women's rights and social equality. And this is going to be interesting to see how this is played out in the rules and the presentations and if there's actually any broadcasting issues of the event. If we look at some of the countries involved, so if we look at countries in, say, Thailand, which is recognized as one of the most progressive countries in Asia for LGBTQIA plus, writes, oh we need a shorter anagram for the anagram. Is it an anagram when it's all the letters? Anyway, it needs to be shorter. It's too long to get your tongue around. That's what she said. Never. The actual act of man gay love, because I just I hate using the word sodomy. Uh the word gay love sounds so much better. Sodomy is such a dry, nasty word. Especially if said by Christian Bale. Sodomy! Sorry, just a little Batman joke there. Anyway, that was decriminalized in 1956. Would you believe it actually took until 2024 until same same sex marriage was legalized in Thailand? But still, Ligabuita, Ligwit there's gotta be leg libigato ligabatoi Members of the L G L Gib I'm trying to LGBT Ligabatoi Ligabato The Ligabatois, the people of the Ligabatois movement all over the media in Thailand. There are vibrant, queer communities, pride events, large, well-attended transgender visibility is high, and there are legal protections in place. So Thailand getting it done and we love it. Whereas in say Bangladesh, homosexuality is still illegal and actually criminalized. And sadly, there are often horrendous abuses against the LGBTQI members in Bangladesh. So it's gonna be interesting to see how people and broadcasters are going to respond and react to say an openly gay performance, as we are known to get at Eurovision. Which of course brings us to 2018. As we have touched on in earlier episodes, China's Mango TV actually brought the rights to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest. However, they never even made it to the grand final, with Mango TV censoring out two performances, including the Irish performance that year. Ryan O'Shaughnessy's performance of Together showed two dancers who were two men basically, you know, dancing out their relationship. This was too much for Mango TV. They cut that out of the of the broadcast. And of course, Eurovision responded with saying, hey, no, you know what? That goes against our rules for the broadcasts, and China was cut off from the Eurovision song contest. So this is gonna be very interesting to see how this plays out in the performances and the broadcast, how they are gonna feel about what is undoubtedly going to be some more flamboyant, sexually expressive performances from some of the other performers. I mean, even with, you know, Vietnam and South Korea, just straight women being sexually confident, we know how much that terrifies some people. On the formal quotes on the Eurovision page, it says this is about evolving Eurovision together with Asia, building something that reflects the voices, identities, and ambitions of the region while staying true to what has always made the contest special. And for exactly that, this is gonna see how this is gonna play out. But at the end of the day, I think this can only be a positive and progressive step forward. But of course, we will get to know more about the exact ins and outs of Eurovision as we move closer to the event, as well as we break down not only the countries, but as they're released. We'll keep you an update of all the exciting acts and performers as they are announced. But more of Ducepoix Asia to come after Eurovision 2026. In the meanwhile, join us for future episodes as we are going to be looking at breaking down the songs and the performers for Eurovision 2026. We're gonna look at the songs, we're gonna discuss our hopes for the stage performances, as well as you keeping you updated on all the exciting news. Oh, it's getting so close. And now, ooh, the best thing is we don't have to wait 12 months for another Eurovision. Now, we only have to spend six months of our lives in the hold position until the 14th of November 2026.

unknown 19:18

Ooh!

Australia Says No And We Vent

Daily Episodes Promise And Sign Off

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Now, before we go, there is one big question I am sure you are asking yourself. Is Australia going to be competing in Eurovision Europe 2026 and Eurovision Asia 2026? Are you about to get double your Australia for your bang? Sadly, no. SBS, the special broadcast service, which broadcasts Eurovision Europe, has come out and stated they will not be sending a representative, nor will we be formally competing at Eurovision Asia. Outrage. Look, to be honest, you know what? Let's put Eurovision, let's put Australia in every form of Eurovision to come. Eurovision Europe, Eurovision Asia, Eurovision South America, Eurovision Antarctica. Woohoo! That's how we finally bring world peace. We bring Australia to everything. All the time. So join us now from this day forward. Be warned. Deuce poi will be releasing an episode every day. All the day. For all the days between now and Eurovision 2026. We will haunt your dreams. Like the third member of the Hemsworth brothers that we don't like to talk about. Not that there's really any big scandal, it's just that, you know, he's shorter and not as attractive and as like a doctor. What a loser. Certainly no god of thunder. But anyway, we won't be talking about him, but we will be talking about Eurovision 202. Join us then. Smoochies.