Waiting List Song Contest 230

For more information about the 230th contest and the actual show go to the thread. The Waiting List Song Contest 230 (stylised as Natiavision 230) was the 230th edition of the Waiting List Song Contest and was held in Kralingslæting, the capital of Griffin Empire following their victory at the edition before. This was the fifth time Griffin Empire hosted the event and the third time that the capital was the host city. While Tamausia & Deltannor came back after one edition pause, three countries withdrew - Begonia, Tanoiro and Tuzi. Tamausia & Deltannor won with their entry Scarlett sung by Holly Humberstone. This was the second time that this country won while Griffin Empire was hosting (third if Congratulations show is counted. Mormadorei topped their record from the previous edition by finnishing in second place,while Belvist came in third place.

Location
Kralingslæting is the capital and most populous city of both Griffin Empire and the Foreõsvdetrre Principality, with a population of 12,292,895. Throughout history, it has been one of Natia's major centres of finance, diplomacy, commerce, fashion, science and arts. Including the city, it's principality - Foreõsvdetrre had a GDP of K709 billion ($808 billion) in 2017. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, Kralingslæting was the second most expensive city in the world. Another source ranked Kralingslæting as most expensive.

The city is a major railway, highway and air-transport hub served by two international airports: Kralingslæting-Natsionalneiska (the second busiest airport in Natia) and Kralingslæting–Vergim. Opened in 1900, the city's subway system, the Undritoogg, serves 5.23 million passengers daily; it is the second busiest metro system in Natia. Nordi Tooggstatioon is the 24th busiest railway station in the world, but the first located outside Dasideal, with 262 million passengers in 2015. Kralingslæting is especially known for its museums and architectural landmarks: the Palace of Brobdingngang Museum was the most visited art museum in the world in 2019, with 9.6 million visitors. The Ilzeh Museumi, Karl Nemadt Museumi, and Museumi Oranzjeringariskaja are noted for their collections of Griffin Impressionist art, the Centrümi arsiskaja "Giorgi Býnbatson" ot moderneiska arsotr has the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Natia, and the Museumi Litammäiskaja and Museumi Paolo Ruiz exhibit the works of two noted Kralingsletingians. The historical municipality of Kralewskovgrad along the Jalina River in the city centre is classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site, and popular landmarks in the city centre included the Bitniska Katedraal, on the Katedraaliisl. Other popular tourist sites include the Gothic royal Bliankö kirkja ot tra, also on the Katedraaliisl; the Ehvör Tower, constructed for the Kralingslæting Natian Universal Exposition of 1889; the Lameli Dvorec and Dvorec Sitiuxiliudiskaja; Kapii ot võitjating on the Avenue Saint Belviederhee, and the Kirkja ot tärte on the hill of Fuudtisk.

Kralingslæting receives around 38 million visitors, measured by hotel stays, with the largest numbers of foreign visitors coming from Tybalteva, Pyreica, Ugaly, Gvozdmost, Bigicia, Tanoiro and Solentoya. It is usually ranked as the most visited travel destination in the world.

Bidding phase
The bidding phase was done behind the closed doors, and it is only later revealed how did it work. Every city had an option to submit one application that included only one arena as well as plans for Natiaclub and Natiavision village. Only 10 cities have had their applications approved, and they were shortlisted. In the end the capital city and its big Princely Stadium were chosen as hosts. Natiavision village was situated on the famous Gimgildahe Tere Square in the Altõdiiriska Sit district, and Natiaclub was located in Griff-i-Qglarrenaa in the district of Lozjuudisit - both in the Municipality of Kralewskovgrad.

Theme
The slogan of the competition was "Wo sit kaishloonimaaovje" which, translated from the standard Griffin language, would mean "in the land of castles". This slogan described a theme that celebrated the architecture and history of the Griffin Empire by dedicating one of the most significant Griffin castles to each nation during the postcards part of the show. Griffin National Television also, in cooperation with the Griffin Postal Service (Griffiniskaja Postplaitse), made a series of postage stamps with the same castles and flags of the participating countries. In addition to Griffin Mail, the competition and the theme were supported by Griffin Ministry of Communications and Transport (Griffiniskaja smirfrotthj för komunikatersam et ovrabernossam), Griffin Ministry of Culture (Griffiniskaja qltürösmirfrotthj), Kralingslætingiskaja Aglomerating, Treasury of the Foreõsvdetrre Principality (Foreõsvdetrreiskaja shjahtaturajtl) and The princely parliament of Foreõsvdetrre (Foreõsvdetrreiskaja Kantselaplats).

Hosts
As part of a GTV's plan to show off Griffin culture and also follow the theme the hosts were chosen from the ranks of young Griffin nobility. During a press conference it was announced that princess of Foreõsvdetrre and duke of Tevs would host the event.

Emma Aliis Ikdõidaignsson Slýtthj prýnsýn ätt Foreõsvdetrre is well-known Griffin actress that appeared in a number of movies including Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. She was one of potential heirs to Bigician throne. Her family is well-known and very politically active princely family with their domain in the central Griffin principality of Foreõsvdetrre. Her uncle is the Griffin emperor consort. She has masters degree in Natian literature from the University of Utopolis.

Jon Sven Gýörgýsön fihfitsleht ätt Tevs, is also an actor and princess' co-star in the Disney live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Coming from a ducal family he is very interested in politics and has a degree in Politicology from University of Tevs. His father is a famous politician that is part of Princely parliament of Meremaa, and Upper House of Griffin national parliament.

Stage
Scenic designer Dërek Mäklein has been called upon by the Griffiniskaja Televisioon to design the stage for 230th Waiting List Song Contest. Rather than focusing on a traditional stage design, Mäklein went for a more abstract and classy look to honour the theme. “It's more about reflectivity and light,” he noted. And while there were certain designs that reflected the past, there were also a sense of the future: “I think that what I've done feels pretty modern and forward-looking.”

The proscenium (the arch surrounding the stage in front of the curtain) was a brand-new design this year and as he added - Mäklein's favourite element of the show. “It feels a little bit like a geode, or a kind of sculpture made out of crushed glass,” he says. When producers asked the designer to do the show, the proscenium was the first design he conceived. The end result was dazzling faceted piece decorated with a staggering 45 million Swarovski crystals. He then expanded upon the crystalline structure for the other pieces on the stage, flattening them into more abstracted, two-dimensional forms that have a bit of an Art Deco flair to them.