Bulgaria wins its 1st Eurovision final over Israel in politically clouded song contest
Bulgaria has won the 70th Eurovision song contest with singer Dara's party anthem Bangaranga.
Dara beat 24 other competitors during Saturday's grand final in Vienna.
The song's infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine was a hit with both viewers and national juries.
It's Bulgaria's first Eurovision victory.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second in a contest clouded by protests against the country's participation.
After a week's buildup, acts from 25 countries took the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena to battle for the continent's pop crown.
Millions of viewers around the world cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at the event.
The campy, colourful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer.
Like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics.
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotting in protest.
The political tensions have clouded a contest that over the decades has given the world the perfect pop of Abba's Waterloo and the ageless Nel blu, dipinto di blu — better known as Volare — along with a host of Euro-pop party anthems.
The musicians had just three minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.
Jets of flame, glitter guns and wind machines worked overtime in a show that celebrated Europe's eclectic musical tastes.
Serbian metal band Kravina offered hard rock angst, as did Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu with the provocatively titled Choke Me. Albania's Alis used a brooding choral sound to pay tribute to mothers on Nan.
Cypriot contestant Antigoni had the crowd on its feet with dance floor filer Jalla.
British act Look Mum No Computer's jokey novelty song Eins, Zwei, Drei was followed by Monroe, a soaring soprano from France with Regarde!
Female solo artists dominated: an empowering power ballad from Germany's Sarah Engels, gospel-tinged R&B from Poland's Alicja, ethereal beauty from Ukraine's Leleka, techno-pop from Sweden's Felicia.
Male soloists were well represented too, by the likes of Aidan from Malta, Denmark's Søren Torpegaard Lund, rock-edged singer Jonas Lovv from Norway, classic Italian crooner Sal Da Vinci and hometown hero Cosmo, representing Austria with a pleasing retro-techno sound.
Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick mid-tempo ballad Eclipse and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.
Bettan was loudly cheered, though there was a smattering of boos as he performed Michelle, a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance.
Party rap with a political edge was in the house thanks to Moldova and Greece.
Rapper Satoshi's ebullient Viva, Moldova was a love letter to Europe from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow's orbit. Greek artist Akylas's song Ferto, or Bring It, provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.
Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the viewers and national juries, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins and their country gets to host the competition the next year.
Protests over Israel's participationStreet protests opposing Israel's inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden, and last year's event in Basel, Switzerland.
Hundreds 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 organizers.
The five-nation boycott was a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year.
Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the "brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show."
Vuletic said political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969 — ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.
"We've seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past," Vuletic said. "All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues."
cbc.ca
