Electrum in the WorldVision Song Contest

Electrum, since its debut in Yttribia, has competed in every WorldVision Song Contest (starting from WorldVision 35) ever since. It has had great success in this competition, with its debut at third place one of the highest in recent history. Since then, it has done well to maintain that momentum, with successive third placings before a small dip in Regica. Afterwards, however, it rebounded in Worldvision 38. This highly contrasts with the lows achieved by the Electrum Diplomatic Offices, a sovereign nation affiliated with Electrum with a slightly unclear identity as to what they do in the international realm other than managing Electrum's commerce, some statistics and participation in the WorldVision song contests. It is notorious within the WorldVision community for constantly sending Gertrude Pullman, who managed to sign up for the EDO without anyone knowing about it. This happened for three editions consecutively until the government, with some members from the Liberty Party, found it a great way to spew out ideology. Afterwards, it was announce that yet again, Gertrude Pullman will appear with another song, in time for WorldVision 39.

Starting from its third edition, WorldVision 37, the host broadcaster, Network ENN has decided to hold a selection contest every edition, so that international juries can select Electrum's best song to enter. Despite a disasterous introduction which gave little choice to jurors, the system has rebounded in Electrum's second national final, where Electrum was launched into the top five again. The usual format is a selection of five songs to be sent to international juries from across the multiverse, ensuring that a crossection of the multiverse were represented. The best song would receive 6 points, next best 4, then 3, and so on all the way down to 1 point. The national final is one of the shortest throughout the multiverse (with less than 8 songs), but Network ENN hopes that it becomes one of the higher quality contests. In commemoration of the 40th edition of WorldVision, Electrum's National Final for that edition will comprise solely of second-chance songs (i.e. songs that weren't selected originally to make the contest) as well as songs from former contestants.

Electrum's first bid for the WorldVision was in WorldVision 38 -- an ambitious bid which included a website, a unified theme and more. Despite those features, Prescott, Electrum, narrowly lost to Peeto, Polkopia, in a very close vote. Network ENN has said that for the meanwhile, in the year 2015, Electrum will be unable to bid, meaning that the next bid is likely in 2016.

History

Debut

Coming in as the eleventh act in the contest, Electrum, a debut nation was a nation that few outside the sporting realm had heard of. It was particularly strange to see a nation with a golden butt as a flag being taken seriously, but it enjoyed astounding success with a disco song. The song, sung by the quite quirky Eliza Nord was a multiverse sensation, helping it gain third place - a solid debut. Meanwhile, Gertrude Pullman's song was mocked for its inane music, and half-improvised half-facepalm-worthy lyrics. All in all, a great success for Electrum. Also at the same time, Max Hardwell and Sonya Portelli made their debut as Network ENN commentators. Firstly known for their unprofessionalism, with Sonya sleeping on set, loathing of foreign-language acts and constant references to drug use, but they cleaned up their act in subsequent editions, and are a power pair, being some of the nicest critics of the acts in the contest.

Subsequent editions

The next edition, in Todlichebujoku was also one of heavy expectation. Many had thought that Electrum had fluked it with the voting in Yttribia, but now they were taken more seriously by other nations. Electrum decided to send "Dreamland", a classical known for its crooning. It was an avant-garde song, and was unlike any of the others in that edition. This set up Electrum's reputation as a nation willing to put up unique and innovative music, and was in it's experimentation phase -- not wanting to be boxed into a single niche. They managed to capture seventeen more points in this edition than the last, but again, got another third place, after the Kalosian votes were removed, making Yttribia stay in second place. In the same edition, Gertrude Pullman would be known for her "creepy as feck" song, "Sore Knee," a haunting song with echo. Unsurprisingly, it wound up near the bottom of the pile yet again.

Next up would be Edition 37, in Regica. This would be the first edition where Elecrum would have a National Final, jumping on the bandwagon as well as the other nations. Although the intentions were meaningful (with Network ENN wanting to seek advice on how their song would go before progressing), critics said that the choice of three songs gave little room for choice or preference, and that the field of songs was particularly weak. Nocturne's "Eternal Flame" would win out, a slow piano ballad about a breakup. It would do pretty well (though not as well as the Electrumites were used to), being in the top half of the competition and getting a decent amount of points.

WorldVision 38

The next edition would be the first time that Electrum would send a host bid -- Prescott, Electrum to the competition. Unfortunately, they lost narrowly to a truly excellent bid from Peeto, Polkopia. Jacinta Crennan, the official Bid Chairwoman for the Prescott bid, said that, "We are glad that at least Polkopia has beaten us, as they have put up a great bid. I guess we will bide our time until it is right, so that we can bid once again." Meanwhile, the selection contest narrowly chose Monday Child's "You're Just Fine" to send to the contest. Then, it was announced that for the first time ever, the Diplomatic Offices would not send Gertrude Pullman along, a departure from tradition (which would be shortlived, as she would return in the next). In the contest, despite holding the lead for part of the contest, the bidding came down to the wire with just a few points separating first to fourth. Anyone could win when the last votes from Kalosia were announced -- Talvezout was in first with 118 points, Electrum on 117 and Izmedu on 113. First, seven points would go to Talvezout, lifting them up to 125 points, and with no points to either Electrum or Izmedu in the intervening period, the final result would be determined by the 12 points. As the crowd waited with bated breath, the announcer said that the 12 points would go to Izmedu, moving them up to 125 points -- a tie. This would be resolved by a tiebreak, with the votes being counted back to see who had the support from the most amount of nations. 16 nations voted for Talvezout, and Izmedu, 19. Izmedu would win the competition, and Electrum would be third place. Again.

Worldvision 39 onwards

Electrum enjoyed success all-around, with Matty P's song "Change Me" winning the selection contest by one vote from the international juries. Meanwhile, Gertrude Pullman, in her best performance to date, sent "Everybody Sucks!" Topping the music charts around the multiverse, it highlighted the absurdities of the contest, and seeked to make fun for it. She was rewarded for the effort with her first ever top-ten finish. It was then announced in WorldVision 40 that a special best-of-the-best selection contest would be held to celebrate the songs that didn't go through. One of Electrum's songs will go through, whereas the Conservative Party willingly pulled out their role, handing it over to Gertrude for another spin of the contest.

Records

Electrum to date has not won a single contest. However, some Electrumites bemoan the fact that Electrum suffers the third-place curse. It seems that whatever Electrum does, they can't break that particular ceiling. For three of the four editions where it has cracked the podium, it has always been at third place. The first twelve points given to Electrum were in the 36th edition from both Talvezout and Yttribia. In the host bid voting during the process for WorldVision 38, Electrum narrowly lost to Polkopia by a mere 18 points, 110 points to 128 points. It was a good result for Electrum, as it was their first time bidding.

Voting History

Electrum

Electrum Diplomatic Offices