The Rise of Intervision and Its Political ContextCEFR A2
9 Nov 2025
Adapted from Anastasia Pestova, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Sung Jin Cho, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Song contests are popular and can show politics. Eurovision started in the 1950s to unite Europe through music. Recently, Russia announced Intervision as an alternative contest.
Officials say it is not political. They want a friendly space for culture and respect. However, many believe it copies Eurovision in many ways.
Today, music and politics are connected, and audiences see votes as opinions rather than votes for talent.
Difficult words
- contest — a competition between people or groups.contests
- political — related to politics or government.politics
- music — sounds made by voices or instruments.
- audience — a group of people watching or listening.audiences
- announce — to make something known publicly.announced
- alternative — offering a different choice or option.
- culture — the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a group.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you feel about song contests being political?
- Can music help unite different cultures?
- What are the pros and cons of having multiple music contests?
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