Eurovision 2023: Who is Edgar Allan Poe? Inspiration behind Austria’s fan favourite track

The final of Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool tonight.

Austria's entry is sure to get people talking once again. In Thursday's semi-final took place many fans had strong opinions about each act, especially fan favourite Austria’s catchy track ‘Who the Hell is Edgar?’

American writer Edgar Allan Poe is the inspiration behind the track performed by Teya and Salena. The writer’s name quickly became a trending topic on Twitter, with many joking that the writer was the oldest person to be involved in the European Song Contest.

The pop anthem has quickly become labelled a fan favourite, with members of the audience celebrating the track in various ways. “Poe” is repeatedly referenced throughout the chorus of the song and a member of the audience could be seen holding the Teletubby character named Po.

While the song itself has won the hearts of many thanks to its goofy portrayal onstage, the meaning behind the song is actually a serious message about the state of the modern music industry. We’ve put together some facts to explain Who the Hell is Edgar?

Who wrote Who the Hell is Edgar?

Since Edgar himself lived from 1809 to 1849, the writer himself did not write the 2023 Austria Eurovision entry. Instead, it was the performers themselves – Teya and Salena – who wrote the lyrics they sang along to.

Who is Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic. He was particularly known for his work during the Romanticism period, specifically his tales of Gothic horror, mystery and the macabre.

Edgar was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He died aged 40 on October 7, 1849. His published works include The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat.

What is Who the Hell is Edgar about?

The satirical track sends a message about Teya and Salena’s experiences as female songwriters in an industry that “doesn’t give women enough credit for their hard work and expertise”, the Eurovision website reads. On the surface, the song leans on ghost imagery and suggests the writer is being possessed by the ghost of Edgar.

However, the song has a deeper meaning about how ghostwriters are often not credited with their work and the difficulties faced by minorities in the music industry. Specifically, “zero dot zero three” references the Spotify $0.003 royalty rate artists receive per track listen.