Rules

This is a virtual contest based on the Eurovision Song Contest. Each player represents a country.

HOW TO PLAY - ENTRIES & COUNTRIES

1. All countries are welcome. There aren't geographical limitations. There aren't limitations on the length and the language of the songs.

2. The artist must be born or be a citizen of the country you represent. 'Microstates' (very small countries like Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, San Marino, etc.) can send acts from one of their big neighbours (for example: San Marino can be represented by Italian singers, Monaco can be represented by French singers, etc.). An artist can compete only for one country in each edition (for example: Italy and San Marino cannot be represented by the same artist in the same edition). See the 'Microstates' section in the 'Countries' page for a full list of microstates and countries they can borrow from.

3. You normally have to represent your own country in Universong. Check the list of free countries to see if your country is free. You are allowed to play with another country only if your native country is already taken. This rules applies to all players joining or returning to the contest starting from edition 92.

4. When you play for a country different from your native one, recall that new players from the country you represent may join the contest and will have priority on their native country. For example: an Italian player wants play for Japan. This is possible until a real Japanese player joins the contest; at that point, the Italian player will have to choose another free country.

5. A maximum of three players from the same country can compete in the same edition. They can play together for their real country or play for different countries. Remember to vote fair, for the songs and not for the country. If the votes are not impartial, the admins can decide to force players from the same country to play together for their native country. For example: we have 2 Japanese players, one of them plays for Japan and the other one plays for China; if the admins notice that China gives high points (7,8,10,12) to Japan in each edition, they may decide that the 2 Japanese players have to play together for Japan.

6. Songs that participated in any edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and songs that are currently competing in national selections for Eurovision cannot participate. Songs that took part in the national selections in the past and were eliminated can participate. Remix, covers or revamped versions of a song cannot participate.

7. Once you made sure that your song complies with all the rules, use the form in the section "Submit an entry" to submit your song.  

THE CONTEST AND THE VOTING

1. It is forbidden to reveal a song until it is posted by the admins on the website and on the Facebook group. You are allowed to reveal your artist on the Facebook group.

2. The songs will be revealed in a three-day video-show in which the videos will be posted on the website and on the Facebook group; after that, the voting days will be opened. After you have listened to all songs you have to rank them and send your top 10 via form that will be made available on the website. It is forbidden to reveal your votes to other players.

3. You vote in Eurovision style (12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). You also have to indicate two countries that will be used as reserve in case one of the countries you voted for is disqualified from the contest. You cannot vote for your own country.

4. If you fail to vote in time, you will be disqualified from the following edition. If you fail to vote in time, the country can receive a penalty too. 

5. If there is a tie between two countries, then the country that got points from more countries will win.

6. Vote for the songs, not for the country or the players. This is a song contest, after all. 

7. Do not cheat, lie or harass other players. Let the admins know if someone is asking for points or harassing you.

8. If more than 27 countries will be competing in the contest, semi-finals will be organised before the final. You will have to vote in semifinals and in final. 

PENALTIES

If you submit a song that has already been used in previous editions or if your song is a cover, you have 24 hours to change it from the moment the admins let you know about it. In case you fail to send a new song, you can still vote in semfinals and final. In any case, no changes are allowed after the recap is posted. In the following edition, if you are not representing your native country, you will not be able to represent that country; the admins will choose a country for you. If you are representing your native country, the admins will choose a song for you, but you will keep your country.

If the artist you select is not born or is not a citizen of the country you are representing, admins may decide to switch your country to the native country of your artist (in case this country is free). If the artist’s real country is taken, you can change your artist within 24 hours, Otherwise the song will be disqualified. You can still vote in semifinals and final. No changes are allowed after the recap is posted. In the following edition, you can keep the same country, but the admins will choose a song. 

If you exchange 'friendly' votes with another player, the admins may decide to cut a minimum of 50 points from your final results. Friendly votes exchange may result in a definitive ban from the contest.

If you fail to vote in the Grand Final, the admins will choose a song for you in the following edition; the admins may also decide to apply a malus to your semifinal points. If you fail to vote in more than one Grand Final, you will skip the following edition. No penalties will be applied in case you have serious and proven reasons not to vote.

If you fail to vote in semifinals, you will have to vote in the Grand Final. Otherwise you will have to skip the following edition and the admins may decide to apply a malus. 

If you vote after the deadline, the admins may decide to cut 10 points out of your total points for every ten minutes of delay.  

If you act like a 'Drama Queen', with useless complaints, offences and insults, you will be banned from the contest and the Facebook group. This is a game, have fun!