The Philippines has won the inaugural Asian version of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Bangkok on Saturday, after 19-year-old Carmelle Collado’s dance track “Sobra-Sobra” topped a field of 11 participating countries. The result places the Philippines at the centre of a new regional music format that organisers hope can replicate the success of Eurovision in Europe, though the Bangkok event also highlighted the limits of its early reach: major regional markets such as China, Japan and India did not take part. South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam were among the countries that did, with national juries and the viewing audience awarding points.
Key Takeaways: Carmelle Collado’s “Sobra-Sobra” won the first Eurovision Asia contest in Bangkok with 211 points, ahead of Thailand on 170 and Vietnam on 164. The song, performed in English and Tagalog, is described as an empowering tribute to Filipino women. Eleven countries competed, but China, Japan and India were absent.
The contest is part of a broader effort to adapt Eurovision’s public-vote and jury model to Asia’s fragmented media and music markets. Eurovision in Europe has become a major television event, drawing 131 million viewers this year, but the Asian edition faces a different landscape: no single regional broadcaster, varying audience habits and the absence of several of the continent’s largest markets. The Bangkok final nevertheless sought to create a distinctive regional identity, with participants arriving on stage by tuk-tuk and waving their national flags in a parade inspired by the host city.
Collado’s win was built on a song that mixes English and Tagalog lyrics and presents a confident, celebratory image of Filipino women. The final scoreboard was close enough at the top to sustain interest: the Philippines earned 211 points, Thailand finished second with 170, Vietnam third with 164 and Malaysia fourth with 152. The event also borrowed from the European format’s camp theatricality. Bulgarian singer Dara performed “Bangaranga,” the song that won Eurovision in Vienna in May, giving the Bangkok show a direct link to the original competition.
Whether Eurovision Asia can build a durable audience remains uncertain. Tickets for the Bangkok event were still available just hours before it began, a sign that public anticipation was modest compared with the European final. The 2022 American Song Contest, a US spin-off featuring acts from all 50 states and hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Kelly Clarkson, lasted only one season, offering a cautionary example of how Eurovision formats can struggle outside Europe. Organisers have not yet announced the next host or detailed plans for a second edition, making the coming months a test of whether the Bangkok final can convert first-night novelty into a sustainable regional franchise.
Source: www.dw.com