The winner of this year’s Eurovision song contest has been proclaimed and despite tough competition, in the end there was doubt who the victor was.
Austria has won Eurovision 2014 with drag star Conchita Wurst claiming victory.
Wurst and her song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ were so popular that she was declared the winner before all the votes were even counted.
So many country’s awarded Austria the magical 12 points – they developed a lead that no other contestant was able to catch up with.
Austria scored 290 points, next came The Netherlands with 238 and Sweden with 218.
At first Wurst was considered too controversial an artist to win. The bearded drag queen was not popular in conservative nations and several country’s signed petitions asking for her to be removed from the show.
The dramatic Austrian tune ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ has been compared to a Bond theme or a Shirley Bassey classic. Wurst described her win as a victory for tolerance.
“For me a dream came true but for our society it shows there are people out there that want to go on and not step back into the past. I’m so thankful. I think we said something tonight. It’s not just a victory for Austria, it’s a victory for love and tolerance.”
Speaking after the show Wurst was asked how she felt to be winning sixteen years after Israeli trans* singer Dana International took out the top spot.
“I really dream of a world where you don’t have to talk about your sexuality, where you are from. Tonight we really showed that we are all part of the same family, not of separate communities. I know it sounds cheesy but: we are one,” Wurst said.
Wurst’s win is the only the second time Austria has won Eurovision in it’s 59 year history. They previously won in 1966 when Udo Jurgens reined with his tune ‘Merci, Cherie’. Traditionally the winner of the competition’s country hosts the following year’s event, so Eurovision 2015 is now expected to be in Austria.
Graeme Watson, Copenhagen.
Images: Andres Putting (EBU), Thomas Hanses (EBU)
