A campaign to bring back a live orchestra to the Eurovision Song Contest has been launched through social media website, facebook. More than 3,750 people have already signed up in support of the move.

The Eurovision Song Contest has not used an orchestra since the 1990s. With the rapid development of music technology, producers, writers and production methods make backing tracks a better alternative. It also means more space for the stage and audience in the Eurovision Song Contest arena during the shows.

With the rapid growth in the number of countries participating at the Eurovision Song Contest, orchestras would need to learn more than 40 songs, as opposed to around 20-25 the last time an orchestra was used at the competition. This makes a return to the use of an orchestra unlikely.

Despite this, Jan Fredrik Heyerdahl of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK), said that they are interested in participations for the Eurovision Song Contest next year – if EBU, NRK and the board of the Eurovision approves it.

There are some songs, however, that may benefit from the sound of a live orchestra. Recent songs by Germany (2007, 2009), Hungary and Estonia may have faired better with live music rather than backing track accompanyment. Earlier this year, Andrew Lloyd Webber also went on record to say that he had hoped his entry for the United Kingdom could be performed by a live band rather than a backing track.

If you want to join the group, you can find a link from esctoday.com's facebook page here.