"This is about an important message, it's call for tolerance for everything that seems different." - Conchita Wurst
She was utterly spectacular on the night and boy does she have a fantastic voice. Play the vid, the song is brilliant - it's the official vid from Eurovision TV.
I think her win is incredibly important because it really is a complete up yours to all the prejudice.
There is a backlash in Russia apparently with celebrities shaving off their beards - which is clearly a political move. However, according to Popbitch on twitter, Rise Like a Phoenix is currently No1 on Russian charts, so ordinary people are not of the same opinion. See this article for info on both:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/russians-are-shaving-their-beards-in-reaction-to-conchita-wu
Russia tried to have Conchita banned before the competition : http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/russia-slams-eurovision-winner-conchita-3525396
Sorry Putin - you can't stage a debate with only one side of the argument and expect people to take it seriously. I feel sorry for your entry this year because they're only 17 and they were booed and that is your fault for invading Ukraine. You're a homophobic arsehole with megalomania and Europe just stuck its fingers up at you.
However, it's not just Russia sadly. I've already heard someone say it was disgusting and that they had to try and explain it to their 4 year old. Um, so what? Just tell them she's a man who likes to wear dresses and be a lady when she's singing. What's hard about that? You don't have to explain all the political and social implications to a 4 year old.
Personally I thought explaining Poland's entry to a 4 year old might be harder, given that there were two lasses on the stage who were only there for their big boobs and the butter churning was fooling no one!
For heaven's sake, we're in the 21st century, if a man wants to wear a dress he should be able to. Judge people on who they are and how they treat others, not what they look like or who they do or don't love.
If you would like to read more about Conchita here is her official page and her wiki page.
All I can say is, well done Europe. We voted for a fantastic singer, a fantastic song and tolerance.
Oh and for the record, for once my fav songs came top:
- Rise Like a Phoenix - Austria - Conchita Wurst
- Calm After the Storm - Netherlands - the Common Linnets (I am sure the Winter Soldier was signing for them :))
- Undo - Sweden - Sanna Nielson
I also loved Iceland, Norway, Spain and Slovenia's entries. You can see them all on Youtube under the Eurovision's Official Channel.