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Following a year’s hiatus thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Eurovision has graced our screens once again with a bizarre and chaotic spectacle live from Rotterdam. From the UK’s “nuls points” (unsurprising considering that this was the first event since the UK left the EU), to the rumours of Italy’s cocaine-induced celebrations, the 2021 Eurovision grand final was as bizarre and energy-fuelled as ever, guided by the sarcastic musings of Graham Norton.
Eurovision 2021 opened with an upbeat number by Cyprus, which perfectly set the tone for a booze-filled musical extravaganza (however terrible the music being performed was). The winners of the event were Italian rock band Måneskin who gave a fantastically energetic and engaging performance with their song ‘Zitti E Buoni’ (whilst simultaneously sporting fabulous purple leather costumes). The number was reminiscent of Finnish band Lordi’s 2006 winning number ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’,
Six former winners participated in the “Rock The Roof” interval act:
Lenny Kuhr (De Troubadour, Netherlands 1969)
Teach-In with Getty Kaspers (Ding-a-dong, Netherlands 1975)
Sandra Kim (J’aime La Vie, Belgium 1986)
Helena Paparizou (My Number One, Greece 2005)
Lordi (Hard Rock Hallelujah, Finland 2006)
Måns Zelmerlöw (Heroes, Sweden 2015)
Paparizou sparkled and reminded everyone why she won the song contest in 2005 with “My Number One”.
Of course, Twitter ‘blew up’ with comments about her incredible performance, with some suggesting that the 2021 award belongs to her again.
“I can’t find any words to describe the feelings I have thanks to all of your messages!! Eurovision is passion, Eurovision is love. Eurovision, you’re “My Number One”,” the Greek singer posted.
Distorted guitars and metal mechanics occasionally upset the expected pop parade. Here are some of our favorites.
(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The now 65-year-old Eurovision Song Contest is as divisive as it is glitzy. The biggest party in pop for its fans, a guilty pleasure for some – and the worst thing to happen to music for others!
Yet it s not all EDM floor-fillers and piano ballads – every once in a while, a handful of the 39 (give or take) countries that take part each year strap on guitars, dial up the gain and set themselves apart from the rest of the competition.
Katrina Leskanich
Updated: 24 May 2021, 2:09
Katrina Leskanich
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THE UK’s Eurovision journey reached a lowpoint this weekend, as James Newman’s Embers failed to set the world alight and was awarded a humiliating ‘nil point’.
It’s a far cry from the euphoria of 1997, when Katrina and the Waves swept to victory with Love Shine A Light.
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I believe James Newman is considered a great songwriter but perhaps as a strong charismatic front man and confident singer he was misplaced, writes KatrinaCredit: EPA
Since then, the UK has often struggled to score in double figures and this weekend’s humiliating defeat - the second zero score in the competition’s history - left Brits fuming about ‘political’ scoring and demanding we should pull out for good.