Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time on Saturday in a final overshadowed by five countries' boycott over Gaza, claiming a dramatic victory despite another big public vote for Israel that again secured it second place. France finished in 11th place.
Acts from 25 countries, whittled down from an initial 35, took the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for 70th Eurovision Song Contest – the continent’s pop crown.
Bulgarian singer Dara won with her infectious party anthem “Bangaranga,” giving the southeast European country its first-ever victory in the competition.
With its infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine "Bangaranga" proved a hit with both national juries in participating countries and viewers around the world, whose votes together decide the winner.
“This is unbelievable,” Dara said at a post-show news conference early Sunday. “I don’t even know what’s going on.”
She thanked “everyone who felt the bangaranga and felt connected to the force.”
“We wanted to offer the public something new and fresh, something unexpected, capable of giving Eurovision a new image,” she said. “Once we can let go of this mask of striving for perfection, that’s when we can be true to who we really are," she said.
The 27-year-old performer is an established name in her homeland of 6.5 million people, but had not been among the favorites to win.
Dara: dancing to victory at Eurovision
France's Monroe 'really proud'
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second with a trilingual ballad "Michelle".
Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu came third in the contest with the rock song “Choke Me.” Australian star Delta Goodrem was fourth with a celestially themed love ballad “Eclipse,” and Italian crooner Sal Da Vinci came fifth with “Per Sempre Si,” or “Forever Yes.”
Finland's entry, "Liekinheitin," or Flamethrower, a love song in Finnish featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and pop singer Pete Parkkonen on a burning set, was the favourite this year, but ended up in sixth place.
France finished in 11th place. French-American singer Monroe, 17, was among the favourites before dropping down the bookmakers’ rankings following the semi-finals.
She delivered an impressive and confident performance with her pop opera song "Regarde!"
"I'm really proud. I think we gave it our all; we put our hearts into that performance. So I'm really happy with what we shared," she told reporters.
Boos heard at Israel's result
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants - Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia - boycotting in protest.
Israel has alleged a global smear campaign against it. Its performance at the final was not, however, marred by any obvious protests, unlike Tuesday's semi-final when four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his performance.
Bettan was loudly cheered for his trilingual rock ballad "Michelle" in Hebrew, French and English, though some booing from the audience was audible when Israel's massive points haul from the public vote sent it surging up the table from eighth place to second.
Eurovision organisers tightened voting rules this year after allegations the country had mounted an intense lobbying campaign to get votes for its competitor.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN received a formal warning from organisers a week ago over videos posted online in which Bettan courted votes too aggressively, after a similar controversy involving Israel last year.
KAN said it plays by the rules and the videos were immediately taken down.
Four countries boycott Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete
Eurovision expansion
Hundreds of protesters against Israel’s inclusion marched near the contest arena before Saturday’s final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide".
“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organisers.
As much of Europe was glued to their screens to watch the show, the Spanish broadcaster RTVE displayed a black banner with the following message: “Eurovision is a contest, but human rights are not. No indifference. Peace and justice for Palestine.”
Despite the blow to Eurovision’s finances and viewership from the boycott, the contest is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
(with newswires)
