Sopot International Song Festival

The Sopot International Song Festival is one of the most presigious international song contests, often compared to the Eurovision Song Contest. It has been organized annualy by the Polish state television, TVP in the coastal resort of Sopot, Poland.

Related Topics:
Eurovision Song Contest - TVP - Sopot - Poland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first Sopot festival was organized in 1961. Between 1977 and 1980 it was replaced by the Intervision Song Contest which was still held in Sopot. Unlike the Eurovision Song Contest, the Sopot International Music Festival often changed its formulas to pick a winner and offered many different contests for its participants. The festival has always been open to non-European acts and countries like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa and many others have been represented in this event.

Related Topics:
1961 - 1977 - 1980 - Intervision Song Contest - Eurovision Song Contest - Cuba - Dominican Republic - Mongolia - New Zealand - Nigeria - Peru - South Africa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The contest lost popularity in Poland and abroad in the 80s and even more in the 90s and the rather unconvincing organizations by the TVP made the authorities of Sopot give the organization of the 2005 Sopot International Song Festival to a private TV channel, the TVN.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since 1999 there was no Grand Prix contest within the festival. TVP chose to invite well known artists instead including the likes of Whitney Houston or The Corrs. In 2005, TVN is expected to bring the contest back. Sopot International Song Festival is usually considered bigger than the Benidorm International Song Festival or Karlshamn Baltic Song Festival because of its ability to attract star performers.

Related Topics:
1999 - Whitney Houston - The Corrs - 2005 - TVN - Benidorm International Song Festival - Karlshamn Baltic Song Festival

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~