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Eurovisionaries: A look At The Song Contest's Most Controversial Moments

It’s time for the annual musical extravaganza, as Europe’s finest (and sparkliest) descend on Kiev for a night of singing, sashaying and scandal. For when it comes to controversy, Eurovision has hosted some of the most shocking moments in television history…  





Sealed With A  Kiss

Though not a huge scandal by today’s standards, viewers were flabbergasted in 1957 when Denmark’s entrants engaged in a passionate snog post-performance. Having performed Skibet skal sejle i nat (The Ship Will Be Leaving Tonight), Danes Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler locked lips for an astonishing 11 seconds.



Day Of The Diva

In 1998 Dana International became a hero, not just for her country, but for the gay and transsexual community in the whole of Europe.  Dana won the contest with her song Diva, but what should have been a triumph for Israel became an uproar as the country’s ultraorthodox Jews protested the male-born star representing them. But, regardless of the furore, on the night Dana was undeniably spectacular.



Quite The Cliff Hanger…
Back in 1996, AKA the days when the UK actually used to win the Eurovision occasionally, Brits were left furious when beloved pop icon Cliff Richard lost out to Spain's Massiel singing La La La by just one mark. With rumours abound that dictator Francisco Franco rigged the Contest to boost Spain's flagging tourism, Cliff struggled to say ‘Congratulations’ to the winner, and many years later still appears to somewhat irked. "I've lived with this number two thing for so many years, it would be wonderful if someone official from the contest turned around and said: 'Cliff, you won that darn thing after all,'" he has said.

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The Bearded Babe
We may live in liberal times, and drag is certainly nothing new to Eurovision, but Conchita Wurst, Austria’s entry for 2014 sent shockwaves round the living rooms of Europe nonetheless. The drag persona of Austrian singer Tom Neuworth, Conchita proudly sported a full-beard challenging traditional ideas about gender, notions of beauty and conformity. Some called her a corruptive influence, but we think she is just fabulous.




Oh Lordi!
Finnish heavy metal band Lordi broke Eurovision records in 2006 when racked up a record-breaking 292 points, and became the first Finnish band ever to scoop first prize. Storming the stage with their Hard Rock Hallelujah, the fearsome foursome bore an uncanny resemblance to Orcs, and it's possible many viewers voted out of awe rather than aural pleasure.

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