General Discussion

Yes, yawn, yawn, but tonight's semi on BBC3 at 20.00 is sure to tell you a whole lot more about the temperature in Europe than just it's taste in music.

For starters there is Ukraine, Russia, Estonia and Latvia on the same platform (will sparks fly?) and if that's not enough excitment there is always the 'bearded lady' from that classy country Austria to promote tolerance between them.

Looks like tolerance won the day...

For the first time ever I phone-voted in Eurovision, and I'm delighted my vote helped Austria and Conchita win the contest.

Uhm! what can one say. I didn't think that contest could get any worse, I was wrong.

What a wonderful contest.  What's not to like about a man in a giant hamster wheel, giant trampolines and the wonderful Austrian Conchita.  More of the same next year hopefully!

So people voted Austria because of a draq queen, woman with a beard.  How sad.

Just about sums up the way people are now. It was not even a good song, will wait to see

it its played on radio stations over the next few weeks.

Netherlands and Sweden were good songs and deserved their points.

So then, for the UK to walk to a win, a drag queen it is next year lol..

Totally agree Wondering. Next year Someone singing with dancers from Priscilla Queen of the desert In background. We`ll walk It  lol.   

Thing is, it was a poke in the eye to a certain person who preaches morality with the barrels of AK47s.

Dang, should have put a fiver on it!

Not that unusual, there was 'Dana International' (Israel, 1998) who also won.

Let's

Gather our forces against

Bigotry and

Tyranny

And there was I thinking it was supposed to be about music.

@Cassandra - for the vast majority of contestants i think it is fair to say it probably is non-political.

One has to feel some sympathy for the Russian twins getting booed everytime they got points.

What a difference a year makes from when those cute jolly grannies sang about their bread making last year promoting Russia as a friendly country.

The Eurovision Song contest, for those who apparently don't know, is hugely popular with the gay community.

Does that start to explain things?

Absolutely, it means we have a tolerant, democratic society in which such harmless freedoms can be openly expressed.

That is exactly why Putin was so incensed, freedom of speech is his biggest enemy and makes him feel vulnerable.