Eurovision Song Contest 2023: An overview

Baby born on migrant ship becomes Eurovision star.

The Eurovision Song Contest is just around the corner. France's entry is being tipped as one of the favourites. But not everyone likes the true tale of a migrant baby born at sea. Plus, defacing a UNESCO site or creating art in Carcassone? The chateau makeover that's dividing opinion.

Madonna will put on a guest performance at the final of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Israel. The US pop superstar is reportedly getting paid $1.5 million for the gig.

Israel stepped up security across the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Sunday as the country's entertainment and business capital launched the official week of Eurovision 2019.

Pop superstar Madonna on Tuesday explained her decision to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel this week, saying that she will always speak up to defend human rights and hopes to see "a new path toward peace."

In a show of dazzling effects and extreme stylistic variety, 10 musical acts have qualified for the Eurovision song contest finale in Tel Aviv. Front-runners Greece and Australia were among the acts to make it through.

The theme of this year's Eurovision Song Contest is "Dare to Dream." But the dream is now over for the 15 nations eliminated from the competition. The remaining 26 entries will battle it out in this weekend's finale.

The leaked news that the "Queen of Pop" would perform at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv was followed by rumors of her backing down. But then she gave an out-of-tune performance of her anthem, "Like a Prayer."

Hungary has pulled out of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest that will take place in Rotterdam. No reason was given, but many people are speculating that the decision is related to the government's homophobic stance.

Eimear Quinn shot to fame in 1996, winning the Eurovision award for Ireland. Since then, she's gone on to have a successful music career, touring all over the planet. She recently released her fourth solo studio album, "Ériu", an orchestral record of Irish music.

Eurovision organizers have rejected a song entry from Belarus due to its lyrics mocking demonstrations against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Critics say the song legitimizes Lukashenko's regime.

On this week's Middle East Matters, we're joined by a singer whose voice has been compared to the legendary French singer-songwriter Edith Piaf. Barbara Pravi, whose mother is Iranian, hails from a family of musicians and artists. In May, she'll be flying the flag for France in the Eurovision Song Contest. She tells us more.